The three Sumatran tiger cubs born at the Honolulu Zoo three years ago are being sent to other zoos around the world.

Zoo officials told KITV-TV that one of the tigers will be going to the Sendai Yagiyama Zoological Park in Japan, while another is heading to the San Antonio Zoo in Texas and the third is going to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

The cubs have been a favorite for Honolulu Zoo visitors since they were born in September 2008.

The litter was born to two tigers named Chrissie and Berani, who are part of a breeding program to help improve the tiger population.

Honolulu Zoo officials say sending the cubs to other facilities will help improve the gene pool of breeding tigers.