ZOO ATLANTA WELCOMES BUTTERCUP THE SUMATRAN TIGER

New arrival is an important ambassador for one of Earth’s rarest big cat species 

ATLANTA – April 17, 2025 – Zoo Atlanta is excited to welcome Buttercup, a 2-year-old female Sumatran tiger, to the animal population. Buttercup arrived late in the evening of April 16, 2025, from Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.  

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan® (SSP) recommended that Buttercup move to Atlanta to be paired with Bob, the male Sumatran tiger at Zoo Atlanta.  

The new arrival will complete a routine behind-the-scenes quarantine period of around a month before exploring the Zoo’s John P. Imlay Tiger Habitat, so she is not yet visible to Members and guests.  

“Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to welcome Buttercup and to share the important story that she and Bob have to tell as ambassadors for a critically endangered species,” said Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. “In the case of Sumatran tigers, the species’ most urgent conservation challenges are ones we can all influence here at home in our own daily lives.”  

Sumatran tigers are among Earth’s rarest cats. Classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species is believed to number fewer than 400 in the wild. They face serious pressures from habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, largely because of deforestation for palm oil plantations. Other threats include illegal poaching for their skins and bones, believed by some cultures to have medicinal value, and killing by humans when they approach local villages and prey on livestock.  

Zoo Atlanta is a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil® and is a strong advocate for encouraging the use of only sustainably produced palm oil, the unsustainable harvest of which threatens Sumatran tigers, Sumatran orangutans, and many other species. PalmOil Scan, a sustainable palm oil mobile shopping guide, makes these choices easy and accessible for everyday users.  

Zoo Atlanta is a participating partner in the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, a coalition of AZA zoos and aquariums, nonprofits, and corporate organizations working to raise awareness of the illegal wildlife trade and reduce consumer demand. The Zoo’s Corridor to Change pathway highlights the global impact of the trade, with an interactive display educating guests about the pervasive nature of wildlife trafficking as detected at major airports around the world, including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Importantly, Corridor to Change also sheds light on the role of social media in fueling the wildlife trade and the negative impact on animal populations that can result from the sharing of content featuring wild animals in unsuitable care situations or selfies of inappropriate and unsafe encounters with animals such as big cats and primates.  

Stay tuned for updates on Buttercup. Visit zooatlanta.org to learn more about the Zoo’s animals, mission, and programs.  

(Photo courtesy of Wildlife Safari)