The News Tribune

By Alexis Krell

It's not easy to get clear ultrasound images of a standing, moving tiger.

That's partly why a newborn Sumatran tiger cub found Wednesday morning in a nest box at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium was such a surprise, staff said, even though they had performed several ultrasounds on mother Jaya in the past few weeks.

Jayas behavior and hormones also didn't suggest she was pregnant.

But when staff went to give Jaya a physical and ultrasound Wednesday, she had given birth overnight to the 2.5-pound tiger.