Two tiger cubs were born last week at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul.

A 7-year-old Como tiger named Bernadette gave birth to one male and one female cub on Thursday morning, Aug. 29, according to a Wednesday news release.

First-time-mother Bernadette and her cubs, who have yet to be named, will be off-exhibit for a few months while they remain in their private maternity den. This allows for mother-cub bonding and for the two cubs to grow stronger before being able to safely explore their outdoor habitat.

The two cubs are the first tigers born at the Como Zoo in over 41 years and they come from the endangered Amur tiger subspecies, also known as Siberian tigers.

Amur tigers are confined to a small region around the Amur River in the Russian Far East despite previously roaming across Siberia. There are fewer than 500 individuals of this subspecies remaining in the wild that face threats from habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict, according to the zoo.

The birth came from a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan and represents “a significant success for the Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan and for the future of the species,” said Wes Sims, Como Zoo’s director of Animal Care and Health.

The cub’s father, 11-year-old Tsar, who is also a first-time parent, will continue to be visible to visitors.

Updates on Bernadette and her cubs will be provided through Como Park’s social media channels.

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