JACKSON – Welcome Six Flags Great Adventure’s newest team member: Carli the rare Siberian tiger cub. The Six Flags animal care team is celebrating Carli’s birth as the second tiger cub born in the Safari in 15 years.
The adorably playful female cub is the first for mother tiger Nadya. Nadya was raised in a highly unique litter, paired with African lion Zuri. Three years later and the two big cats still live together.
“Nadya showed great mothering skills at first; but when she failed to nurse her cub, we stepped in,” said Safari Veterinarian Dr. Ken Keiffer. “Today, Carli is doing extremely well. She weighs 12 pounds and when full grown, will weigh more than 500 lbs. Her large paws are indicative of the massive cat she will grow to become one day.”
Carli is six-weeks old, named for New Jersey native and soccer star Carli Lloyd.
While Carli is being hand-raised by the animal care team now, guests will soon be able to come see her for themselves in the park’s Safari Discoveries section.
“Tigers are typically solitary animals, while lions are more social. The strong bond that Carli’s mom Nadya shares with lion Zuri will hopefully mean that the trio will become their own pride one day,” Dr. Keiffer said.
Carli is a special addition to a rare species. Siberian tigers are one of the largest cats in the world; however, they are also endangered. Carli is now one of fewer than 500 Siberian tigers left in the wild.
