Entertainment Swindon

Longleat’s Amur tigers enjoyed a refreshing dip in their outdoor pool as temperatures rocketed across the south west this week.

The four tigers, who are now two-thirds of the weight and size of mum, Yana, celebrated their first birthday last month and are the second litter for mum Yana and dad Red.

After a public vote, they were named Heidi, Seeka, Dora-Boo and Ginger Biscuit and as girls, they can stay with mum for up to another year to 18 months, giving Longleat the biggest family of Amur tigers to be seen on Safari in the UK.

Their birth was important for the international breeding programme as the species is currently listed as endangered with only around 450 of the species in the world. At the time, their arrival equated to over 25 per cent of births across Europe in the previous two years.

Facts about the Amur Tiger:

The Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) –  is found mostly in the Russian Far East with a small number ranging across into Northern China

They usually live 10-15 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.

The Amur tiger is the largest subspecies with males weighing 160-190kg and females 110-130kg.

The Amur tiger is one of the most endangered animals in the world with only around 450 remaining in the wild.

In the 1930s the tigers had nearly died out due to hunting and logging. At one stage it is thought the population fell as low as just 20–30 animals.