A new donation has helped the Beardsley Zoo move forward with a project to build a new tiger habitat.

Reka and Zeya, 1 1/2-year-old Amur tiger cubs, were born in the zoo, and now along with their mother will get a new habitat.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim revealed Monday the city will pledge $2.5 million to help the zoo build a new tiger habitat. There was also a private donation by Pam Kochiss Werth a couple months ago. She donated $1 million to the project.

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The announcement coincided with Global Tiger Day. Officials estimate there are only about 3,200 tigers left in the wild, 500 of which are Amur tigers - the largest cat in the world.

Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2020, with the hope of everything completed in a year.

The new habitat will offer more holding space for the tigers, as well as make it easier for the public to view them. An architect is now designing it.