Endangered tiger cubs make debut at Utah zoo

updated 6:00 p.m. ET Aug. 25, 2009

SALT LAKE CITY - Three male Amur tiger cubs have made their public debut at Utah's Hogle Zoo.

Formerly known as Siberian tigers, the Amurs are listed as a critically endangered species. Males weigh 400 to 650 pounds and can be up to 11 feet long. In the wild, they live in eastern Russia and northeast China.

The three cubs were born June 2 to mother Basha and father Kazek. Since then, they've been out of view while they bonded with their mother and gained strength.

It's Basha's first litter, and zoo keepers say she's a natural mother. Basha was born at the zoo in 2003.

Also born at the Salt Lake City zoo this year have been a male giraffe, female elephant, male snow leopard cub and two golden lion tamarin monkeys.

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