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Pair of rare Amur tiger cubs debuting at Minnesota Zoo are raising hopes for the endangered species

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Pair of rare Amur tiger cubs debuting at Minnesota Zoo are raising hopes for the endangered species


APPLE VALLEY, Minn. (AP) — A pair of rare Amur tiger cubs are making their public debut at the Minnesota Zoo, raising hopes for preserving an endangered species that’s native to far eastern Russia and northern China.

Andrei and Amaliya got to venture outside and feel the grass of their new home under their paws Wednesday for the first time since their 12-year-old mother, Dari, gave birth on May 23.

“They’ve done quite well since then,” zoologist Trista Fischer said. “We’ve monitored them very closely. Dari’s been fantastic. She’s provided outstanding maternal care. And so today we’ve reached the point where they’re fully vaccinated and they’re now about 40 to 45 pounds (18-20 kilograms).”

Scientists estimate the Amur tiger population is just around 400 to 500 in the wild. They were near the brink of extinction in the 1930s and 1940s but have recovered somewhat since then. It’s tricky to breed them, and around one in four Amur cubs don’t make it to adulthood, whether it’s in the wild or in captivity, she said. Poachers are another major threat.

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But the Minnesota Zoo, located in the Minneapolis suburb of Apple Valley, has a long history of conserving tigers. Its Amur tigers have produced 57 cubs, 46 of which survived for at least 30 days. Of those 46, 21 have gone on to produce litters of their own, amounting to another 86 cubs. The births of Andrei and Amaliya raised the zoo’s population to seven Amur tigers, including their sire, Luka.

Fischer is the leading coordinator for the Tiger Species Survival Plan, a breeding program in the United States with facilities in other countries that works on a global level to preserve the big cats. The plan manages three groups of tigers: Sumatran, Malayan and Amur.

“This litter is so valuable to the population right now,” she explained, saying the genetic diversity of heathy tigers in human care could someday be used to help support populations in the wild.

Zoo spokesperson Zach Nugent said the cubs will remain housed together with their mom for about 18 months, before Andrei, the male, is moved to separate housing, around the same time a male cub in the wild would start venturing out on his own. Amaliya, the female, may spend a little more time with Dari, up to 24 months. Then Fischer will determine whether either cub should be bred, and potentially moved for that to another accredited zoo, which typically happens after the cubs are 2 years old.

“Aww, I love when they get their little Yoda ears,” Fischer said referring to the pointy ears of the Star Wars character as she watched Amaliya and Andrei explore the new terrain of their enclosure. She said it was an emotional, exciting and proud moment for her and her team.

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“Our work’s not over, but all that work so far is really paying off in how well that these cubs are acclimating to a new surrounding, pretty much immediately,” she said as the little tigers roamed outside with their mother. “They’re showing a lot of resiliency, which is something that we work hard for in human care. We want these animals to have a lot of confidence and be able to adapt to new environments just as they’re doing today.”

___

AP writer Steve Karnowski reported from Minneapolis.



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Minnesota

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings: Wednesday Injury Reports

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San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings: Wednesday Injury Reports


It’s Wednesday, and around the National Football League that means it’s time for the first injury reports of the week. The Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers are no different, as they have released their initial reports for Sunday’s contest at U.S. Bank Stadium. Let’s take a look at those reports here.

San Francisco 49ers

Did Not Practice

  • DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
  • LB Dee Winters (ankle)

Limited Participation

  • G Aaron Banks (calf/finger)
  • S Talanoa Hufanga (knee)
  • WR Jauan Jennings (ankle)
  • RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf)

Full Participation

No players listed

Obviously, the McCaffrey situation is the one worth watching here. The Niners made him a surprising late scratch for their season opener, and the reports so far are that he’s a bit of a long shot to play Sunday. He’s the best running back in the NFL and the Niners will obviously look a lot different without him if he can’t go. Hufanga is, potentially, looking to play his first game since tearing his ACL late last season. If he can come back, it would give the Niners’ defense a significant boost as well.

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Minnesota Vikings

Did Not Practice

  • WR Jordan Addison (ankle)
  • OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (foot)

Limited Participation

  • C Garrett Bradbury (knee)

Full Participation

Addison continued receiving treatment on his ankle on Wednesday rather than practicing. We’ll see how this progresses during the week but I’m not sure if Addison is going to be out there on Sunday. If he’s not, more will obviously fall on Nailor and Brandon Powell. Van Ginkel. . .who should have been the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. . .was held out a bit at the end of the Giants game but Kevin O’Connell said he should be fine by Sunday.

Those are the initial injury reports for the Vikings and the 49ers as they prepare for this weekend’s contest. We’ll continue updating these throughout the week.



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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has not said abortion in ninth month is ‘absolutely fine’

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has not said abortion in ninth month is ‘absolutely fine’


DFL Rep. Tina Liebling, who sponsored the change, said the repealed language was put in place to demonize doctors and imply things were “happening that were not happening.”

“It basically said that in these situations, families are not able to make their own decisions. The reality is that abortions late in pregnancy don’t happen unless there’s a real reason like a medical emergency, like a non-viable fetus, like a fetus that will only live briefly outside of the womb,” she said.

“The whole thing is intended to make it sound like people are having abortions late in pregnancy for no good reason and that’s just not true.”



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Golden Nuggets: On to Minnesota

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Golden Nuggets: On to Minnesota


Kyle Shanahan provides injury updates on McCaffrey, Hufanga, others

“Shanahan did not clarify that timeline, but he did clarify the Achilles part of McCaffrey’s injury. He only told reporters last week that it was a calf/Achilles injury and not just a calf injury as initially stated. It’s Achilles tendinitis, and McCaffrey likely would’ve played in a playoff game in the same situation.

“Definitely I believe that if it was a playoff game he would have played, but when it’s not just the calf, it’s the Achilles,” Shanahan said. “The Achilles is tendinitis, and that stuff comes and goes, and when it is acting up, it’s something you got to be very careful about. Christian is very diligent about that stuff. If it was a playoff game, he made it very clear to me he believed he could go. But when you hear that type of stuff, and it’s not a playoff game, and it’s week one, and especially when you’re dealing with the lower extremities like that, that was a tough decision, but hearing all the words and stuff in the long run, it made it easy.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter intimated McCaffrey could miss Sunday’s game in Minnesota. Something worth thinking about: the 49ers’ next two games are both on turf. Would the 49ers risk McCaffrey at less than 100 percent on turf fields with an Achilles in play? Perhaps, but it wouldn’t be a monumental surprise if he misses the next couple.”

Willis cherishes unbreakable bond with ‘special’ 49ers fan base

“While Willis’ days of suiting up for the Red and Gold are long gone, his connection to the fan base remains strong as ever, with the Faithful never foregoing an opportunity to shower the legendary linebacker with the same undying affection he grew accustomed to during his playing days in the Bay Area.”

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49ers’ junk-food-loving Jordan Mason devours Jets in first career start (paywall)

“As a rookie, San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason popped sugar-crusted Life Savers throughout the day and horrified fullback Kyle Juszczyk with some of his other dietary decisions.

Juszczyk, 33, a 12-year veteran who attributes his longevity partly to red-light therapy, stem-cell treatment and clean eating, would nearly hit the roof when Mason would hit the Ruffles for brunch.

“Believe me, I was all over Jordan about his diet early,” Juszczyk said Monday night after the 49ers’ 32-19 win over the Jets. “It wouldn’t even be 10 a.m. and he’d be eating potato chips in meetings. And I’d explain to him, ‘Dude, if you were at home and it’s 9:30 (a.m.), would you be eating potato chips right now?’ Sometimes rookies, they’ve just got to learn on the run.”

49ers minutia minute: Details on Christian McCaffrey; Brock Purdy’s mature game (paywall)

“One of the game’s best matchups pitted Lenoir, a rising young cornerback, against Garrett Wilson, the Jets’ top receiver. Wilson caught four of six passes for 38 yards in those situations. Most of them, however, were difficult grabs with tight coverage from Lenoir, who in the third quarter deflected a pass to Wilson into the air, leading to an interception by Flannigan-Fowles.”

Thompson: Brock Purdy upstages Aaron Rodgers with the veteran poise the 49ers will need (paywall)

“His offensive line had some struggles and rust. And Purdy didn’t have all his weapons clicking. He was facing a unit touted as one of the best in the league, led by the all-world defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. And this was Rodgers’ much-anticipated debut after rupturing his Achilles four snaps into last season’s opener. Also known as the Jets’ Super Bowl. Yeah, this game was set up for Purdy’s demise.

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And while he didn’t blow the doors off anyone — 19-for-29 passing, 231 yards — he certainly was the best quarterback on the field. While the run game anchored the attack, a luxury Rodgers certainly could’ve used, Purdy was adept at playing off it.”

49ers rookie Puni shines in ‘awesome’ NFL debut vs. Jets

“Despite earning the praise of one of the NFL’s greatest linebackers, Puni didn’t leave Monday’s contest satisfied, citing there still is plenty to improve on while graciously praising his teammates for the feedback they give that allows him to continue growing as a player.

“I had flashes for sure, I had good moments, but at the same time a lot to clean up,” Puni said. “ You could tell they were throwing some looks, I feel like for me on the D-line, they were trying to get some guys [to] get me out of position a little bit. Definitely a lot of things to learn from, but all the guys do a hell of a job keeping me in the mix and letting me know.”

Puni overcame an incredibly difficult task in his first start, squaring off with a ferocious Jets front four that includes All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and former 49ers first-round pick Javon Kinlaw.

The rookie guard detailed how this trial by fire could help set him up for sustained success as he continues to embark on his first NFL season

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“That’s partly why I’m glad it was Monday night and that D-line, especially. Because you got Quinnen Williams and [Javon] Kinlaw,” Puni said. “Those are two real big bodies, so from here on out, there’s not many guys better than Quinnen Williams. So I think it’s great experience for me to kind of start out that way.”

How PFF graded Purdy, 49ers in dominant Week 1 win vs. Jets

“Purdy’s overall grade of 89.6 was the highest of any quarterback in Week 1. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was No. 2 at 88.1. Purdy’s sweet spot is still 10-19 yards downfield, which is where the 49ers signal-caller threw a perfect 7-for-7 for 120 yards.”

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey’s status uncertain vs. Vikings

“After the game, Mason told ESPN’s Lisa Salters in an on-field interview that he found out “maybe Friday night” that he would get his first NFL start. Shanahan said no such decision was made until Monday, when McCaffrey arrived at Levi’s Stadium with his injury “bothering him a little too much where he didn’t feel good about it.” Shanahan added that he didn’t inform Mason he was starting until Monday and suggested that perhaps running backs coach Bobby Turner or another coach told Mason he was starting as a way to “pump him up” earlier in the week.”

PFF’s best and worst graded 49ers players vs. Jets, plus snap counts

“Fred Warner earned the highest grade of the game (92.6), finishing with seven tackles and a forced fumble. It was his highest grade since the Divisional Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers during the 2021 season (94.2). Despite missing two tackles, contributing to a low 38.6 tackling grade, Warner excelled in coverage, earning a superb 92.9 coverage grade and allowing just one reception for three yards.

Defensive end Nick Bosa had the second-highest grade of the game at 90.5, his highest mark since Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars last season (93.6). He posted the top pass-rushing grade (87.8) and led in run defense with a 75.1 grade. Bosa earned a game-high five pressures.

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Cornerback Charvarius Ward was the highest-graded defensive back, allowing only two receptions for 14 yards on five targets. Newcomer Isaac Yiadom also impressed with a solid 70.3 defensive grade, giving up two receptions for 29 yards on four targets.”



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