Three Sumatran tiger cubs born at a zoo near Athens are giving new hope for one of the world's most endangered big cats. The cubs were born in early July to Toba, their mother, and Argos, their father, who recently passed away from cancer. On Tuesday, the cubs received identification microchips and their first vaccinations as part of a global effort to create a backup population for the species. The Sumatran tiger is classified as critically endangered by the United Nations and conservation organizations. These tigers are found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which is slightly larger than Sweden. As few as 400 are believed to remain in the wild, primarily due to the destruction of forests for agriculture and development. The cubs, two males and one female, were active and difficult to handle during their vaccination on Tuesday. Veterinary staff used electric buggies to transport the animals between different areas of the zoo to complete the procedure. Each cub received a microchip that is logged into a shared global database, along with a vaccine similar to one used in domestic cats that protects against three diseases. The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of all tiger species, but males can still grow up to 2.55 meters (8.4 feet) long and weigh as much as 140 kilograms (309 pounds). These tigers are skilled swimmers and climbers, using their distinctive dark stripes—unique to each individual, like a fingerprint—to blend into the dense forest while hunting deer, wild pigs, and smaller mammals. Even at just two months old, the cubs already have sharp claws and teeth, making them challenging to handle. Zoo staff plan to name the surviving cubs after characters from Homer’s "The Odyssey." Theodoros Babilis, head keeper of cats and monkeys at Attica Zoological Park, explained that zoos in Europe and other regions are working to maintain a safety population of Sumatran tigers. This effort aims to ensure the possibility of reintroducing the species into the wild in the future. Dr. Arsenoi Psaroudaki, a zoo and wildlife veterinarian, described the work as demanding because the tigers are naturally wild and resistant to handling. She emphasized the importance of minimizing stress during procedures. For Dr. Psaroudaki, the work is also deeply rewarding. She expressed hope that the efforts of zoo staff can help safeguard these rare cats. She noted how humbling it is to work with what she considers the rarest tiger species in the world. The cubs’ survival represents a small but significant step in the ongoing fight to protect the Sumatran tiger from extinction.