First Sumatran Tiger Cub Born at ZSL London Zoo in 17 years

It was great moment for the Zoological Society of London as they welcomed their first tiger cub in 17 years.

The rare Sumatran cub was born September 22 to five-year- old mother Melati, a Sumatran tiger. Born at 9.22 p.m., the birth took only six minutes.

Zookeeper Paul Kybett said: "We are simply over-the-moon about the birth of the tiger cub; it's a momentous occasion for everyone at ZSL London Zoo and a real cause for celebration. We were nervous about the pregnancy, as it was Melati's first cub and we didn't know how she'd react. When it came to her due date, we were all watching our monitors with bated breath."

The zoo keepers, who were nervous about the pregnancy, kept this news a secret and constantly monitored the first time mother through her pregnancy with special cameras hidden inside the den.

Jae Jae ,  the father of the newly born cub,  met Melati at the Tiger Territory that was opened by Prince William in March. This territory was designed to encourage breeding of this critically endangered and declining sub species.

"The actual birth happened very quickly and Melati's maternal instincts kicked in immediately, as she started licking the cub all over and it soon began wriggling around - we couldn't have asked for a smoother birth! It's still very early days, so we're leaving Melati alone to take care of her adorable baby, and our cameras allow us to watch them both from a distance - so far she's proving to be a doting mum," said Kybett.

The new born cub is a descendant of the Zoo's last cub Hari, father of Melati. The mum and child are currently in the Tiger Territory's special cubbing den where the duo will get sufficient time to bond well. They will be kept away from the public for a few weeks.

Sumatran tigers are a rare tiger species that inhabit the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. In 2008 these tigers were listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.