PHOTOS: Tiger cubs make debut at Six Flags in Vallejo
VALLEJO, Calif. (KGO) -- The newest attraction at Vallejo's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will debut this weekend. It's not a ride, but is sure to create a big roar.
A pair of 3-month-old Bengal tiger cubs have been at the park since they were 1-month-old. But they were inside a nursery. This weekend, visitors will finally get to see them frolicking outdoors. And soon, they'll also begin training to perform in the tiger show.
"They'll be trained to do simple behaviors -- sit-ups and risers," said big cats supervisor Jonah Lime. "A lot of our tigers are actually trained to dive down into the water. Manners are probably the hardest thing to teach these guys, that's no biting and no clawing of the trainers."
The media was invited for a sneak peek on Tuesday to see the pair make their first foray into the Odin's temple of the Tiger outdoor exhibit. The cubs were given pumpkins to play with during their introductions.
VIDEO: Sneak peek at tiger cubs Vallejo's Six Flags
Officials say the cubs, a male named Faruk and a female sibling named Kismet, are growing fast, very rambunctious, and are eager to play.
The two were recently transferred to the park from a facility in Florida. They're being hand-raised and bottle-fed by the park's veterinary and animal staff.
Bengal tigers are critically endangered, with a wild population of less than 2,500. Their numbers are continuing to decrease due to increased poaching and human-tiger conflict.
This subspecies can be found in India, with smaller populations in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, and along the eastern coast of China.
