Polish zoo celebrates the birth of 4 Sumatran tigers, a critically endangered species

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish zoo is celebrating the arrival of four Sumatran tiger cubs, announcing their birth Friday after keeping it a closely-guarded secret for weeks due to fears they may not survive.

Officials at the Wrocław Zoo in the southwestern Polish city of Wroclaw said the tigers — a critically endangered species whose numbers have dwindled to around 400 in the wild — were born on July 22. But the zoo chose not to go public with the news until they could grow a bit, gain some strength and be vaccinated, zoo spokesperson Weronika Łysek said.

Each cub is now about double the size of a domestic cat, at over 8 kilograms (about 18 pounds) each.

“The joy is even greater that all four tigers are developing healthily, are active, eager to eat and play with each other and with their parents,” said Sergiusz Kmiecik, acting president of the zoo, which has been breeding Sumatran tigers since the 1960s.

The four cubs are the offspring of mother Nuri and father Tengah, who four years earlier produced a female, Surya. She currently lives in a zoo in Cottbus, Germany.

The zoo proudly hailed the births as “a breeding success on a global scale.”

Paweł Sroka, the head of the zoo’s department of predatory mammals, noted that Tengah had stayed with the cubs from the beginning, which is rare for tigers.

“He was calm, gentle, and even helped Nuri with care, learning how to ‘handle’ the cubs,” he said.

The zoo is also celebrating the fact that the litter included three males and one female. Females predominate in European zoos, so the birth of three males can help balance their population in zoos.

It is not yet clear where the four cubs will end up going, and they still have growing to do before that is decided, Łysek said. They also haven't been named yet, and the zoo is considering letting the zoo's visitors and fans take part in their naming.

Sumatran tigers — the most critically endangered tiger subspecies — are under increasing pressure due to poaching and a shrinking jungle habitat. There are only about 400 of them left in the wild, according to the Wrocław Zoo, which also has a foundation that works to support their protection.

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, One of four Sumatran tiger cubs is seen at the Wroclaw zoo, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, Four Sumatran tiger cubs are seen at the Wroclaw zoo, which is celebrating the birth of the critically endangered predators, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, Four Sumatran tiger cubs are seen at the Wroclaw zoo, which is celebrating the birth of the critically endangered predators, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, Tigress Nuri with one of the four tiger cubs at the Wroclaw zoo, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, Four Sumatran tiger cubs are seen at the Wroclaw zoo, which is celebrating the birth of the critically endangered predators, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, Four Sumatran tiger cubs are seen at the Wroclaw zoo, which is celebrating the birth of the critically endangered predators, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

In this photo released by ZOO Wroclaw, Four Sumatran tiger cubs are seen at the Wroclaw zoo, which is celebrating the birth of the critically endangered predators, in Wrocław, Poland, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (ZOO Wrocław via AP)

DETROIT (AP) — Donald Trump paced his rally stage in silence for nearly 20 minutes Friday night in Detroit after his microphone cut out.

The Republican nominee and former president was about to wax on about one of his favorite subjects, tariffs, working up to naming it by first teasing “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” Very quickly afterward, the sound went down.

The crowd chanted “USA” and “We love Trump” in support. But with no microphone, Trump simply wandered around the stage. Looking frustrated, his back was turned to most of his audience at times.

It was the second time in a week that one of his events was interrupted — though the last time, on Monday, Trump cut off a town hall and instead played music after multiple people in the audience needed medical attention. This time, Trump appeared to have little control over the matter, standing silently while the screens in the room displayed the messages “Technical Difficulties" and "Complicated Business.”

Trump is famously attuned to his image and the mechanics of his rallies, often commenting on the microphones and teleprompters. Earlier Friday, the hosts of “Fox & Friends” joked that Trump likes to adjust the lighting when he sits for interviews.

Aides are known to travel with multiple backup mics — though it was unclear why they weren't able to locate one immediately Friday — and to carefully prepare the flags that decorate his stages.

As the delay stretched on, the crowd continued to cheer and chant. At one point, the crowd did the wave.

Finally, after nearly 20 minutes, an aide brought Trump a replacement microphone that worked.

“I won’t pay the bill for this stupid company," he said. “I won't pay the bill, and then we’ll have a story that Trump didn’t pay the bill to a contractor.”

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump pauses during technical difficulties at a campaign rally, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump pauses during technical difficulties at a campaign rally, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)