WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- A Sumatran tiger has arrived at the National Zoo.
Zoo officials say the 2 1/2-year-old female tiger named Damai is spending time outside in her exhibit where visitors can see her. The Zoo now houses three Sumatran tigers: Damai, Soyono and Soyono's 5-year-old offspring, Guntur.
Tiger keeper Leigh Pitsko said about Damai in a statement Wednesday, "We can already tell that Damai is a great tiger. She's sweet, very calm and curious about everything going on around her."
Zoo officials say they plan to breed Damai with a male tiger later this year. Her genetics are rare among tigers in captivity in North America and zoo officials say that makes her a highly valued animal in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for Sumatran tigers. The plan matches animals nationwide to ensure genetic diversity in the population.
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The National Zoo was successful breeding Sumatran tigers and other cats in the past. According to zoo officials, the zoo's last litter of tigers was born in 2006 to Soyono, who has had three litters.
Conservationists believe there are fewer than 3,500 tigers left in the wild as the result of poaching and habitat loss.
Visitors to the National Zoo's website can view the tigers on a webcam and read about their activities through updates from the Zoo's tiger keepers. For more news, follow the Zoo's Twitter feed and Facebook page.