The Akron Zoo is welcoming a few new animals to the zoo – one Sumatran tiger and two cinereous vultures. 

The zoo’s new female Sumatran tiger is named Sumini (sue-mee-nee) and she is two-years-old. She was born on Aug. 2, 2021. She moved here from the Dallas Zoo based on recommendations from the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP), a scientifically managed breeding program that works to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse population of tigers. Sumini and the zoo’s male tiger, Eko, will have a breeding recommendation in the future.

The zoo’s previous female, Diburu, moved this past fall to another zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) based on recommendations from the SSP. Sumini will make her public debut in early 2024. 

The Akron Zoo is also welcoming a brand-new species, cinereous vultures. Male Irv is 33 years old and female Bondi is 24 years old. The two vultures are a bonded pair from the Denver Zoo. They moved to the Akron Zoo based on breeding recommendations from the Cinereous Vulture SSP. Irv and Bondi are making their public debut on Dec. 14 in their habitat next to the zoo’s snow leopards. 

Cinereous vultures are listed as near threatened due to loss of food sources, habitat destruction, hunting and poisoning. Their average size is 39-43 inches tall, with the males weighing 15-26 pounds and females weighing 16-28 pounds. They are also known as Eurasian vultures, with their range expanding from Spain to central Middle East and eastern China.