As the mercury soared across the south west this week, the rare Amur tigers at Longleat decided there was only one way to beat the heat – a refreshing plunge in their outdoor pool.
The four tiger cubs, who turned one last month, were more than happy to make a splash as visitors looked on. Now almost two-thirds the size of their mother, Yana, these playful big cats are growing fast, though still under the watchful eye of mum for another year or so.
Named Heidi, Seeka, Dora-Boo and Ginger Biscuit following a public vote, the young quartet mark an important milestone for Longleat’s breeding programme. As females, they’ll remain with Yana for up to 18 months, forming what is now the largest family of Amur tigers ever seen on safari here in the UK.
Their birth holds significant importance beyond the Wiltshire park. The Amur tiger – also known as Panthera tigris altaica – remains one of the most endangered big cats on the planet, with only around 450 thought to survive in the wild today. Found largely in the Russian Far East and a small stretch of Northern China, their numbers were once perilously low, falling to as few as 20 individuals in the 1930s due to hunting and deforestation.
Longleat’s successful breeding of Yana’s second litter contributed to over 25% of European Amur tiger births across a two-year period, providing a much-needed boost to the international conservation effort.
In the wild, these powerful predators usually live for 10 to 15 years, though in captivity they can reach up to two decades. Adult males tip the scales at an impressive 160-190kg, with females ranging between 110-130kg.
For now, though, it seems the only thing on these cubs’ minds is enjoying the sunshine and making a splash — much to the delight of Longleat’s visitors.
