Sumatran Tiger Achilles Now on Show at Prague Zoo

Achilles the Sumatran tiger making one of his first trips to the outdoor enclosure at the Feline and Reptile House. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo’s director, said “Achilles is a magnificent Sumatran tiger with great promise; he is the perfect match for our Surya as part of the European breeding programme. He’s still getting used to his new home, however, as of today, he is on display in the Feline and Reptile House. Surya will soon be in heat, when that happens our new pair of tigers could have their first meeting.”

Achilles was born in London on June 27, 2016. He is the younger brother of the tigress Cinta, who is already known to Prague Zoo’s visitors. He has been living in Howletts Wild Animal Park since 2018, and came from there to Prague this June. He was placed in quarantine upon arrival, which is mandatory. Today, as a welcome treat he was given a wicker doe filled with meat.

Achilles “hunts” his gift in the form of food enrichment – a wicker doe filled with meat. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Pavel Brandl, the zoo’s mammal curator, said, “He is a placid male and has lived with females in the past, however, he has yet to produce offspring. Apparently in both cases the issue was the health of the female. It is hoped he will be able to mate with Surya, who also has not yet had a cub. She is in the perfect age to do so.”
There are just 128 purebred Sumatran tigers registered within the European Association of Zoological Gardens (EAZA). Last year Europe saw just twelve cubs born, so there are high hopes on Achilles.

Apart from his aforementioned peculiarities, Achilles is very inquisitive and gentle, however, when it comes to sharing his food, he lets the beast come out. He prefers beef or game and is especially fond of heart, liver and kidneys. In contrast, he’s not fond of goat meat and really can’t stand poultry. He enjoys tearing at meat that is hanging from a rope, the perfume enrichment mentioned above, and in the summer he likes to lie in the sun whilst cooling down with ice lollies made of blood.

Achilles is still getting used to his new surroundings. He’s adapting slowly, but peacefully. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest living tiger. It usually grows to a weight of 90 to 120 kg. It is the last of Indonesia’s “island tigers”, which used to live on Sumatra, Java and Bali. The tigers on Java and Bali became extinct in the last century, and it is only the tigers on Sumatra that have survived to the present day. Although it is difficult to estimate their numbers, it is thought there are between 400 and 600 tigers. Their population is continuing to decline at a rate of about 10% per decade.

The greatest threats Sumatran tigers face are their natural habitat being turned into oil palm and acacia plantations and hunting. There is the direct threat of poaching for their skin and bones, and the indirect threat due to a reduction of their prey. They prey upon ungulates - sambar deer, wild boars, muntjacs and other animal species, including macaques and porcupines. Sumatran tigers also fall victim to conflicts with farmers.

Achilles likes to explore the vegetation in the enclosure and also loves the raised wooden platforms that afford him a good view of his surroundings. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo has been breeding tigers almost since it was founded. A year after it opened, in 1932, it received Bengali, a cross between a Siberian and a Bengal tiger, and Mitau, a Bengal tigress, from the Hagenbeck Circus. The first Sumatran tigers found their home at Prague Zoo in 1958, and the first cub was born in 1971.

Nine-year-old Achilles offers great promise that Prague will start breeding this rare subspecies. It is difficult to foresee, but if all goes well, four-year-old Surya could be pregnant this year. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo