GREENVILLE — There are only about 400 wild Sumatran tigers left in the world, many of which roam in protected reserves in Indonesia.

Could a breeding pair be on the way to the Greenville Zoo?

The Greenville Zoo Foundation — a private nonprofit that raises money for capital projects at the city’s zoo — asked state lawmakers this year for $7 million to support the construction of a tiger exhibit, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

The request for a tiger enclosure was part of a larger $26.5 million request from the zoo foundation, which The Post and Courier obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Other projects included in the application included the renovation of a farm complex, a new habitat for orangutans and an overhaul of the zoo entrance.

Zoo Foundation Board President Gail DePriest said in a statement from the city of Greenville’s public relations department that the nonprofit organization “cast a wide net to see what might be available” in its search for funding from the state.

“Although a tiger habitat is on our wish list, it is not a project we are actively pursuing,” DePriest said in the statement.

The funding request was sent to Rep. Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville), who chairs the South Carolina House of Representatives committee responsible for drafting the budget each year. He called the Greenville Zoo an “asset,” particularly because of its role in attracting visitors to the tourist-popular city.

The other three projects, which cost a total of $25.6 million, were not funded in the budget. The state’s role is primarily to fill the gap on certain projects, Bannister said.

“The state cannot solely fund these things at the local level,” Bannister said. “There still has to be something that is supported by local funds.”

According to the funding request, the tiger exhibit would include an outdoor area with space for several tigers, netting, a renovated indoor area, an additional lounge area and a viewing window for guests.