Calgary Zoo's 2nd tiger cub dies

The second of two Siberian tiger cubs born unexpectedly at the Calgary Zoo has died, zoo officials said Friday.

The female cub died from complications associated with severe head trauma it suffered shortly after birth when its inexperienced mother carried it too firmly it her mouth — the same way its sibling died, the zoo's veterinary team said.

Zoo officials announced on Tuesday that Katja, one of the zoo's four adult Siberian tigers, had given birth to two cubs early that morning.

The 10-year-old first-time mother's other cub was found dead in the enclosure at that time.

It was not known that the endangered tiger — part of an inter-zoo breeding program — was pregnant.

Veterinarians were giving the second cub around-the-clock treatment at the zoo's animal health centre.

"This has been a very difficult week for the zoo, especially for the veterinary and animal teams who cared for the tiny tiger cub for every minute of her short life," the zoo said in a release.

"We're all devastated," said Dr. Sandie Black, the zoo's head veterinarian.