There is great anticipation at the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem where keepers believe that a pair of Sumatran tigers have successfully mated after a long period of time.

Hannah, the female tiger, was seen mating with Avigdor, her male partner, following an eight-month effort that is part of a major project to preserve the endangered sub-species. At the zoo, the hope is that Hannah will soon prove to be carrying a cub.

"We are almost certain that during their first mating, six weeks ago, Hannah was not impregnated," Shmulik Yafuv, chief zoologist at the zoo, said this week.