Dallas Zoo Seeks Public Help to Name Rare Tiger Cub

Donation-based contest supports conservation of critically endangered Sumatran tigers.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:20pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a Sumatran tiger cub playing in a verdant, natural setting, with soft pools of warm light and color creating a hazy, atmospheric scene that evokes the beauty and fragility of this endangered species.The Dallas Zoo's newest Sumatran tiger cub explores its habitat in a serene, dreamlike setting, highlighting the need to protect this critically endangered species.Dallas Today

The Dallas Zoo has welcomed two rare Sumatran tiger cubs and is inviting the public to help name the female cub through a donation-based contest. The three name options are Alya, Merapi, and Rina, and all proceeds will go towards animal care and conservation efforts to protect the critically endangered tiger subspecies.

Why it matters

Sumatran tigers are the smallest and rarest tiger subspecies, with fewer than 600 estimated to remain in the wild. Every birth in accredited zoos like Dallas contributes to the global survival plan for the species, making this an important conservation initiative.

The details

The male and female Sumatran tiger cubs were born in the early morning hours of February 22 to 12-year-old mother Sukacita and father Kuasa. Each cub weighed about 2.5 pounds at birth and are currently bonding and growing stronger behind the scenes before moving into their public habitat. The zoo has launched a naming contest for the female cub, with supporters able to vote by making a donation on the zoo's website. The name with the most donations by April 20 will become the cub's official name.

  • The Sumatran tiger cubs were born on February 22, 2026.
  • The public naming contest for the female cub will run until April 20, 2026.

The players

Dallas Zoo

A zoo located in Dallas, Texas that has welcomed two rare Sumatran tiger cubs and is hosting a public naming contest to support conservation efforts for the critically endangered subspecies.

Sukacita

The 12-year-old mother of the Sumatran tiger cubs born at the Dallas Zoo.

Kuasa

The father of the Sumatran tiger cubs born at the Dallas Zoo.

Stephanie Allard

The chief mission officer at the Dallas Zoo.

Sumatran Ranger Project

A conservation organization that the Dallas Zoo is supporting through the tiger cub naming contest.

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What they’re saying

“Our team is thrilled to share this special moment with our community. This naming contest is a fun and impactful way for guests to connect with these incredible animals while directly supporting conservation efforts that protect tigers in the wild.”

— Stephanie Allard, Chief Mission Officer, Dallas Zoo

What’s next

The name with the most donations by April 20, 2026 will become the female Sumatran tiger cub's official name.

The takeaway

The Dallas Zoo's Sumatran tiger cub naming contest is an engaging way for the public to contribute to critical conservation efforts for this rare and endangered subspecies of tiger.