Uploaded June 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tiger cub update: Joanne's feisty fluff balls are 5 months old, healthy and growing fast. All three cubs are eating 1.5 pounds of Nebraska feline diet each per day, and they are nursing from Joanne less and less each week. Due to their sizes, all three cubs are now worked exclusively in protected contact (the keepers are no longer going into the exhibits or bedrooms with the cubs).
Nelson is growing quickly! Because Nelson is often the first to nurse from Joanne and the first to approach for hand-feeding sessions, he currently weighs 40 pounds. He can be identified by the stripes above his right eye: the stripes make a "check-mark." Nelson is the most comfortable of the litter with the keepers and is often the first to catch on to new behaviors during operant conditioning training sessions.
Cathy currently weighs 35 pounds. She loves special food items like beef heart, bloodsicles, and shank meat. Cathy gets so excited about these special treats that she will even swat a sibling or mom who gets too close--we are getting a glimpse of the territorial adult tiger she will become! Cathy is often excited for hand-feeding sessions and will cry loudly if she is not the first cub fed. However, Cathy is often the most timid around keepers and takes a bit longer than her siblings to catch on to new behaviors during operant conditioning sessions. Cathy can be identified by the stripes above her right eye: the stripes make a "three-sided box."
Debbie is the most adventurous of the litter! As the smallest cub (she currently weighs 33 pounds), we are often surprised by her courage. Debbie is often the first cub to explore new enrichment or new features of the exhibit. She tends to be the most independent cub--sometimes, Debbie can be seen enjoying Exhibit A after her mother and siblings have already gone inside for the day. Debbie can be identified by the stripes above her right eye as well: the stripes come to two peaks and look like "mountains" or a "heart."
Tiger cub update: Joanne's feisty fluff balls are 5 months old, healthy and growing fast. All three cubs are eating 1.5 pounds of Nebraska feline diet each per day, and they are nursing from Joanne less and less each week. Due to their sizes, all three cubs are now worked exclusively in protected contact (the keepers are no longer going into the exhibits or bedrooms with the cubs).
Nelson is growing quickly! Because Nelson is often the first to nurse from Joanne and the first to approach for hand-feeding sessions, he currently weighs 40 pounds. He can be identified by the stripes above his right eye: the stripes make a "check-mark." Nelson is the most comfortable of the litter with the keepers and is often the first to catch on to new behaviors during operant conditioning training sessions.
Cathy currently weighs 35 pounds. She loves special food items like beef heart, bloodsicles, and shank meat. Cathy gets so excited about these special treats that she will even swat a sibling or mom who gets too close--we are getting a glimpse of the territorial adult tiger she will become! Cathy is often excited for hand-feeding sessions and will cry loudly if she is not the first cub fed. However, Cathy is often the most timid around keepers and takes a bit longer than her siblings to catch on to new behaviors during operant conditioning sessions. Cathy can be identified by the stripes above her right eye: the stripes make a "three-sided box."
Debbie is the most adventurous of the litter! As the smallest cub (she currently weighs 33 pounds), we are often surprised by her courage. Debbie is often the first cub to explore new enrichment or new features of the exhibit. She tends to be the most independent cub--sometimes, Debbie can be seen enjoying Exhibit A after her mother and siblings have already gone inside for the day. Debbie can be identified by the stripes above her right eye as well: the stripes come to two peaks and look like "mountains" or a "heart."
