Sumatran tiger cub's death at L.A. Zoo still a mystery

A baby tiger found dead at the Los Angeles Zoo apparently died of head trauma, but officials are not sure exactly what happened.

The animal was one of three male Sumatran tiger cubs born Aug. 6.

Zoo officials said a necropsy performed on the cub after it was found dead Monday indicated that it had sustained head trauma. Officials are still trying to figure out how the cub sustained the wound, the zoo said.

Because tiger cubs depend on their mothers for the first year, the zoo said each birth in captivity "is significant and not without risk."

The cub's mother, Lulu, will continue to raise the two other cubs, according to the zoo. The tiger successfully raised litters in 2005 and 2007.

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Photo: Two of three Sumatran tiger cubs born last month at the L.A. Zoo are shown in an Aug. 26 photo. One of the three cubs was found dead Monday. Credit: Los Angeles Zoo