Entertainment Swindon

Today, Wednesday 29th July, marks International Tiger Day and Longleat is celebrating with the arrival of two rare Amur tiger cubs.

The two cubs have been born to parents Red and Yana, who are third time parents at the Wiltshire estate.

The twins are just two weeks old and keepers don’t yet know their sex and they are currently unnamed.

Amy Waller, Team Manager of Safari, said: “It is a real privilege to welcome another litter of these endangered animals and in the 60th year of the Drive-Through Safari no less.

“Yana is a fantastic mum and has raised six cubs so far, so we have no doubt that she knows exactly what she’s doing and we’re following her lead.

“The cubs will feed from mum for around six months before she starts weaning them onto meat.

“So far, they are looking like chunky little cubs, so we’re just making sure Yana is getting more food than usual so she can provide for them.”

Amur tigers are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red list, with only an estimated 450 individuals remaining in the wild, making them one of the most endangered animals in the world.

“We’ve seen such success with the European Breeding programme (EEP), with three of our cubs having moved onto new homes, and Yuki from our first litter, even having her own cubs,” said Amy.

Yana and Red’s last litter were born in May 2024, with four girls, Ginger Biscuit, Dora-Boo, Heidi and Seeka, who were named with the help of the public.

Their first litter, and the first in 20 years at Longleat, were born in 2019 with one boy, Rusty, and one girl Yuki.

Longleat is now home to seven tigers, the largest family group in the UK, with Red, Yana, Heidi, Seeka and Dora-Boo calling the park home, as well as the two new cubs.

Most recently, Ginger Biscuit moved to Woburn Safari Park as part of the breeding programme.

“We aren’t sure yet when the cubs will be able to be seen as it is still early days and they will need to have their inoculations before venturing outside,” said Amy.

“We will keep everyone updated once we start introducing them further to Tiger Territory but keep your eyes peeled when driving through as Yana has access to the paddock and might move them at any time,” she added.

Yana and Red are both 11 years old and arrived at the park in 2018.

Guests can see the park’s tigers in Tiger Territory on the Drive-Through Safari.

For more information and to book tickets, please visit longleat.co.uk