Naming our tiger cubs

Meet Ginger Biscuit, Dora-Boo, Seeka and Heidi  - the newly named rare Amur tiger cubs.

Lead Carnivore Keeper Eloise Kilbane has recorded a special video to say thank you to the public for voting and she highlights not just who’s who but also explains the characteristics of the four cubs, now five-months-old.

Dora-boo – this is a merge of two of the popular votes and Eloise says: “She is a – Dora – boo; the princess of the four – the one often found sat with her front paws crossed or cuddling up to mum, Yana.

Ginger Biscuit – Eloise says: “We were really pleased this was popular as we were hoping for a name which linked their colouring  to their dad, Red and older brother Rusty. Rusty and sister Yuki were born to Yana and Red in 2019.

“And the last two are Heidi and Seeka. These two quite literally hide and seek; they are the biggest cubs and play together – they run off, forget about mum and are out exploring.

“They really are all growing in confidence and we, with mum, are increasing the hours they are in the drive-through Safari every day.

“Guests can see them in the safari or from the safari when they are in their paddock; when Yana thinks they have had enough she leads them back into the house and we are very much being led by her.

“We have all been so delighted by the response to not just their arrival but also the voting on their new names, we have had messages and emails as well as lots of comments on Longleat’s social media and would like to thank everyone for their support.”

The arrival of the four girls means Longleat has the largest number of tigers in the UK. The Amur tiger is currently listed as endangered and it is estimated that there are only 450 remaining in the world.