August 23, 2025
Provided Image/Philadelphia Zoo
'A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub,' is based on the Philadelphia Zoo's efforts to care for a tiger cub abandoned by its mother in 2017.
A new children's book tells the story of the tiger cub that was rejected by its mother at the Philadelphia Zoo, cared for by zookeepers and ultimately adopted by a tiger of another subspecies — a feat that had never been accomplished.
"A Family For Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub," written by Debra Kim Wolf, follows Zoya, an Amur tiger born in 2017, from her birth to her acceptance by a new mother at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
The only surviving member of her litter, Zoya was rejected by her mother, forcing Philadelphia zookeepers to take over the cub's care. They determined her best chance of thriving would be to transport her to the Oklahoma City Zoo, where Lola, a Sumatran tiger, recently had given birth to three male cubs.
After a 12-hour drive, Zoya was covered in the scent of her foster siblings, and eventually Lola accepted her as her own.
Wolf, a land conservation attorney and songwriter, said she was "hooked" by Zoya's story and knew there were themes within the story that transcended Zoya's survival and the benefits to her endangered species.
"I was so touched by the lengths humans are willing to go to protect what's precious on our planet," she said. "Zoya's journey reminds us that small acts of kindness, for animals or people, can make a big difference. Keeping this little endangered Amur tiger alive and healthy was important for her whole species."
Wolf is hosting a book signing and meet-and-greet event at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Philadelphia Zoo. The event is free with the price of admission, and books can be purchased at the zoo's gift shop, website and on Amazon. Proceeds benefit the Tiger Conservation Campaign.
The 40-page book is geared toward children ages 4-9, with illustrations by Marina Durante and Annalisa Durante. It includes interesting facts about Amur tigers and first-hand accounts from zookeepers who care for them.
Zoya, an endangered Amur tiger abandoned by her mother at the Philadelphia Zoo, is bottle fed by the zoo's staff in 2017.
Amur tigers, formerly known as Siberian tigers, are the largest cat in the world, with males growing up to 400 pounds and females growing up to 260 pounds. They once were found throughout Siberia, but are now limited to the Amur River Valley. Fewer than 500 remain in the wild, but in the 1930s, their numbers had dwindled to as few as 20, according to the Philadelphia Zoo.
Sumatran tigers are the smallest tiger species and live in Indonesia. Their stripes are closer and their orange fir is darker than other subspecies, according to National Geographic. They also have a distinctive beard and mane.
"As a member of the Philadelphia Zoo team that cared for Zoya, drove her to Oklahoma City and waited anxiously to see if she would be accepted by her new family, it's incredible to see how her story will be an inspiration for years and years to come," Jenna Heinze, senior veterinary technician at the Philadelphia Zoo, said in a statement. "Zoya holds a special place in my heart and her success story is living proof that humans can work together to save and protect animals."
Wolf said the book emphasizes the importance of zoos and their work toward wildlife conservation.
"Being the first point of contact people have with most species, zoos help us to care about the fate of animals around the world," Wolf said "... If animals can be accepting of differences, maybe people should too!"
