Sumatran tigress Melati with her three cubs.

Keepers celebrate the arrival of critically endangered Sumatrans

A trio of tiger cubs have been born to ZSL London Zoo's critically endangered Sumatran tigress Melati.

Zookeepers managed to catch the cubs' first moments using hidden cameras in the flagship Tiger Territory enclosure, which opened last year.

The triplets were born in the early hours of the morning on February 3 after Melati's 106-day pregnancy.

Keepers monitored the whole birth using remote camera technology. With just 300 Sumatran tigers estimated to be living in the wild, the births represent a huge achievement for the global breeding programme.

The successful breeding comes just five months after Melati's first cub was found dead in its enclosure a few weeks after being born. The cub was thought to have drowned after falling in the pool, leaving keepers "heartbroken".

The triplets are being observed 24/7 and keepers say they are pleased with their progress and Melati's response to them. One keeper, Teague Stubbington, said: "We couldn't be more delighted with our new arrivals."

Key milestones such as the cubs opening their eyes and taking tentative first steps have been caught on the hidden cameras.

The cubs have not been sexed yet, but Teague says their personality traits are already starting to shine through.

"We've nicknamed one Trouble, as it's much bolder than the others - it was the first to start exploring its den and we've spotted it waking up its siblings when they fall asleep!"

Mother and cubs are still hidden away in special cubbing dens and Melati has only ventured away from them for food.

The zoo says exclusive footage of the cubs will will posted on ZSL's Youtube channel throughout March.

Image courtesy of ZSL London Zoo