I visited the Como Zoo in Minnesota not long ago and learned that they recently had some tiger cubs! So recently that the babies and mama are not on exhibit yet, and likely won't be for a while. And it made me wonder, how long does it usually take for big cat cubs to go on exhibit? And what's going on behind the scenes while they're not on display?
(also, we were doing our walkthrough in the afternoon, and both of the lions as well as the remaining tiger on exhibit were just. Fully stretched out right in the middle of their enclosures, having the most luxurious naps of their lives lol. Both the boys were snoozing on their backs, belly-up, and it was very funny to behold. Also, the polar bear was having a great time showing off for a gaggle of kids at the pool window!)
Sounds like you visited on a good day! Re: when cubs are allowed on exhibit, it's a good question! It can vary, but normally big cat cubs aren't let on habitat until they're at least a few months old. There's a couple reasons for this:
They've got to grow! In the wild, cubs wouldn't leave their den until their eyes are open and they can walk. Like a den, keeping them behind the scenes keeps the babies warm and safe and where their health can be easily monitored by staff. Indoors, it's less stressful and more successful for staff coax mom into another den if they need to access a baby for medical care - imagine the problems if they were stashed somewhere outside and mom wouldn't come indoors at all!
Mom's got to be willing to let them go outside. Again, just like in the wild, female cats keep their cubs hidden until they're "ready" to go outside - which is when they're big and strong enough to be past the "potato with eyes" stage and actively want to start exploring the world. I've seen some cubs not spend a ton of time on exhibit even when a zoo is willing to let them because mom isn't sure about it and will pick them up and take them back indoors.
Habitats built for adults aren't always built for littles! Before young animals of any species can be let out into the adult habitats, they have to be baby-proofed. And the little have to be big enough to be able to navigate an adult space safely. You see this when habitats have pools or moats, frequently, where they're either drained or fenced off until cubs (or baby eles) are coordinated enough to swim or big enough to wade safely.
So really, the timing of habitat access is a safety/health/natural behavior thing, and it normally aligns with about the normal timeline of mom being willing to let her babies start to explore the world.
Meet Marisa and Maks, the Amur tiger cubs born at the Como Zoo in October 2024.
Photo Credit: Como Zoo
