Virginia, the only Siberian tiger to have been born in Türkiye, has quickly become a favorite among visitors at Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Zoo, where her 100th day was celebrated with a special cake.
The Bursa zoo, which has operated since 1998, is home to nearly 1,000 animals from 123 species across a 206,000-square-meter site. The zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and welcomes around 800,000 local and international visitors each year.
The zoo is currently celebrating the birth of a Siberian tiger cub as part of a breeding program aimed at helping preserve the species. The cub, born to Victor and Zeya, was named Virginia.
Virginia quickly attracted visitors' attention but suffered a broken leg while playing. She was treated by veterinary specialists at the zoo in cooperation with experts from Bursa Uludağ University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
After responding positively to treatment, Virginia reached her 100th day, which was marked with a special cake prepared for the cub.
Erdem Saker, a former mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and coordinator of Bursa Zoo, said the birth of the Amur tiger cub was a source of happiness for the zoo. He said veterinarians had worked meticulously to ensure the cub’s healthy development.
Veterinarian Mustafa Ömer Üküm said Virginia was the only Siberian tiger born in Türkiye as part of the species’ conservation program. He said the necessary clinical treatment was provided after the cub’s accident and that the zoo was celebrating her 100th day.
