Getting nosey: Sumatran tiger Kirana enjoys a tender Eskimo kiss moment with her newborn youngster as they emerge from their den for the first timeSumatran tiger Kirana gets up close and personal with her tiny cub as the youngster makes its way in the world at Chester Zoo.
The proud mum gave one of her three offspring a lift back to the den in her jaws as they made their first public appearance since their birth last month.
In other tender scenes, Kirana delighted visitors by giving one of her cubs an Eskimo kiss followed by a thorough cleaning with her tongue.
Cheek by jowl: Kirana gets her cub by the scruff of its neck as the month-old tiger learns its way in the worldThey had been kept inside their enclosure as they adjusted to life together, but Kirana is now showing them off to the outside world.
Born to Kirana and father Fabi on October 22, their arrival has been cause for huge celebration at the zoo because there are perhaps only around 400 of the critically endangered species left in the wild.
Kirana and Fabi are part of the the European Endangered Species Programme which attempts to co-ordinate breeding between zoos and maintain genetic diversity.
Easy, tiger! The tiny cub is already developing a sense of aggression, although it may be some time before his bite is louder than his roar
Keeping it clean: Kirana makes sure her young'un is spotless during their first appearance in the outside world
Roars for thought: Mum daydreams while her offspring tries out its vocal chordsTim Rowlands, the zoo's Curator of Mammals, said: 'Kirana is so far doing a brilliant job and is being a very attentive mum.
'It's estimated that there are just a few hundred (Sumatran tigers) left in the wild and only around 7per cent of their original habitat remains, which is why these triplets are so, so important.
'To think they're now part of a safety net in case wild populations go extinct is pretty remarkable and quite humbling.'
Delight: The arrival of this cub and its two siblings provides hope for the endangered species, of which there only an estimated 400 left in the wild
Don't get mouthy: Sumatran tiger Kirana gives one of her three cubs a lift back to the den in her huge jaws as the new family emerged from their enclosure at Chester Zoo to the delight of visitorsSumatran tigers, as their name suggests, are only found on the Indonesia islands of Sumatra, where they continue to be poached for traditional medicine.
They are the smallest of all tigers alive today. Their stripes are narrower and closer together than on many other sub-species, which make them highly adapted to moving stealthily through dense forest.
Kirana and Fabi are part of the the European Endangered Species Programme which attempts to co-ordinate breeding between zoos and maintain genetic diversity.
source: dailymail
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