The four critically endangered tiger cubs born May 19 are the second litter born at the zoo to mother Zoya and the first offspring to father, Finn, according to zoo information.

Dr. Logan Wood, zoo director, said “having four thriving cubs and a mother who is successfully raising them, is a true testament to the dedication and care provided to the animals by our incredible team here at Roosevelt Park Zoo.” He said the cubs represent a major, positive step forward to the zoo’s efforts to support the global population of Amur tigers.

The four Amur tiger cubs created much interest for zoo visitors during the past months.

Two months after the cubs’ births, the names of the four cubs were announced at an event held in the zoo July 29, according to the July 30 edition of The Minot Daily News. Members of the 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base were recognized for naming the cubs: Buffy and Afkai for the two female cubs and Brogan and Koshmar for the two male cubs. The naming was an activity for the public while supporting the zoo’s conservation efforts. Proceeds from the naming supported the Roosevelt Park Zoo Foundation and its mission to protect endangered species through conservation efforts.

The Amur tiger cubs had grown considerably when this photo of Zoya, the female Amur tiger, and three of her cubs, was taken Sept. 29. The fourth cub was nearby.

On June 21, the grand opening of the African Plains Building, home to the zoo’s new state-of-the-art giraffe habitat, was held.

The new habitat, made possible through an anonymous donor, gives zoo guests the chance year-round to get nose-to-nose with the giraffes, with an opportunity to hand-feed them.

Spanning 7,300 square feet, the expansive indoor facility is directly connected to a larger outdoor yard, allowing giraffes to move freely between environments through specially designed giraffe-sized doors, according to zoo information.

“Our goal was to design a space that prioritizes both animal welfare and visitor engagement,” Wood said.

In November, the zoo’s giraffe family grew with the birth of a 145-pound male calf born to parents Kianga and Kioni. The birth marked the 11th calf born to mother Kianga at the zoo and the first calf born to Kioni.

Roosevelt Park Zoo’s giraffe calf was born Nov. 2 to parents Kianga and Kioni.

Currently, giraffes are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with populations declining due to habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Fewer than 117,000 remain in the wild, making every new calf a reason to celebrate and to continue vital conservation work, according to zoo information.

The birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, a program dedicated to ensuring the future of vulnerable species through thoughtful breeding and conservation efforts.

The tiger cubs and giraffe calf have grown considerably aduring the past months. According to Chelsea Mihalick, zoo curator, the tiger cubs’ weights are as follows: Afkai is about 66 pounds, Buffy is about 60 pounds, and Brogan and Koshmar are about 70 pounds. She said they are not able to weigh the giraffe calf but as of Dec. 10, he was about 7 feet. He has been named Khari.

Roosevelt Park Zoo is transitioning into a new zoo footprint as the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection project continues. One of the phases of the multi-phase flood project begins at Roosevelt Park and continues through Roosevelt Park Zoo. The zoo’s discovery barn has been relocated from the north side of the Souris River to a new, permanent location near the Visitor Center, according to the April 2 edition of The Minot Daily News.

Flood project impacts on the zoo will continue in 2026, the Nov. 5 edition of The Minot Daily News reported.

A giraffe munches on enrichments hung on the African Plains Building’s viewing overlook, where Minot Park District and Roosevelt Park Zoo staff and members of the Minot Area Chamber EDC Ambassadors gathered for a ribbon cutting June 21.

The Souris River Joint Boards were considering bids in early November on three projects at the zoo. A storage facility and the North American exhibit and wolf exhibit are to be rebuilt next year in flood-protected areas.