Bandung. In the midst of a financial and management crisis that has left its gates closed to the public, Bandung Zoo has been given a rare gift: the birth of two Bengal tiger cubs.

Born on July 12 to a 4.5-year-old tigress named Jelita and her aging mate Sarukh Khan -- an extraordinary 22-year-old tiger -- the cubs mark a moment of hope for the century-old zoo in West Java. At just five weeks old, the male cubs are now part of the zoo’s small tiger family, which has grown to five.

“This is a blessing for us. We are grateful to have two new Bengal tiger cubs,” said Sulhan Syafi’i, the zoo’s spokesperson.

For now, the cubs are being nurtured in a straw-lined den alongside their mother, who has proven to be a devoted caregiver. From their first day, they have nursed steadily, and by their seventh day, their eyes opened to the world. Today, the cubs are growing stronger, crawling at first and now toddling around with lively steps.

Zoo keepers, veterinarians, and nutritionists monitor them closely, while Jelita is given a diet of chicken and beef to support her milk production. “They are in good health, and the mother is caring for them wonderfully,” Sulhan said. The cubs, however, remain unnamed as the zoo grapples with larger uncertainties.

That uncertainty is daunting. Bandung Zoo has been shuttered for two weeks, its operations hampered by a funding shortfall and an ongoing dispute between its former operator, Yayasan Margasatwa Tamansari, and new management under Taman Safari Indonesia. For now, only keepers are allowed inside to care for the animals.

Despite the turmoil, staff cling to the joy of the zoo’s newest residents. “We can only pray that the conflict ends soon and the zoo reopens to the public,” Sulhan added.

As night falls, the cubs nestle safely beside Jelita, while Sarukh Khan -- one of the oldest known tigers in captivity -- watches from the next enclosure. Their presence is a poignant reminder that even in the face of crisis, life finds a way to roar forward.

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