Endangered Malayan tiger makes debut at Houston Zoo
HOUSTON -- The Houston Zoo's newest resident made its debut on Tuesday.
Berani, a three-year-old 280-pound Malayan tiger, is in Houston after making the trip from Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington, earlier this year.
Berani is here following a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan to find a suitable companion. That companion is Satu, a tiger residing at the Houston Zoo.
Zoo officials say Berani and Satu will take turns in the tiger yard while undergoing a formal introduction, which will be overseen by zookeepers. After that, they'll spend more and more time together as they complete the introduction process.
Malayan tigers surviving on the Malay Peninsula are critically endangered with an estimated population of 300 remaining in the wild.
