SF Zoo Releases First Video of New Tiger Cub

The San Francisco Zoo released the first video of the zoo's new Sumatran tiger cub on Wednesday.

The video, shown below and posted on YouTube, lasts less than a minute and show a very calm tiger cub hanging out with a handler who places the small animal on a mat of straw.

The cub yawns, shakes her head and moves around a bit unsteadily.

She was born last month and is in excellent health, according to zoo spokeswoman Abbie Tuller. The cub's first exam came last week. She weighed in at 8 pounds.

The cub went on limited display this past weekend.

The lion house had been closed after the cubs birth, but the zoo is now allowing a few hours of access to the public each week. The Lion House will be open again this Friday and Saturday from 1-3 p.m.

Visitors are asked to follow the instructions of zoo staff and security, remain behind barriers and avoid making noises to attempt to wake or disturb Leanne and the cub. The zoo does not guarantee mom Leanne and the cub will be on view during those hours, but will provide a video display if they are in the nest box.

The cub is currently nameless. We didn't even know the sex until a medical exam last week.

The cub's naming rights will be part of the zoo's annual fundraiser, ZooFest, which takes place on May 11. An 8-week health exam will take place on or around April 10.

The Sumatran tiger is critically endangered, with a wild population estimated at less than 400. There are 74 Sumatran tigers in captivity in North America at accredited zoo and aquariums.

 NBC News reported the greatest threat to their survival is the destruction of their habitat, followed by poaching.

Currently the wild Sumatran Tiger population is estimated at less than 400. As of September 2012, there were 74 Sumatran tigers in captivity at 27 accredited institutions of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in North America, according to NBC.

Bay City News contributed to this report.