Ten months on in tiger territory

What a difference 10 months make! Yana, one of our six rare Amur tigers, strikes a pose with her four cubs playing on logs in the Safari Park.

The cubs – Dora-Boo, Ginger Biscuit, Heidi and Seeka – were born in May last year and are now regularly found playing in the paddock as visitors experience the Safari drive-through with Yana keeping a watchful eye.

The litter was Yana’s second with dad Red; Rusty, a male went to Blackpool and Yuki, a female, travelled to Knowsley Safari Park as part of the European breeding programme.

Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said: “To have four female cubs arrive was so fantastic for the breeding programme and for our guests as we can keep them together for longer with mum.

“This gives people an amazing opportunity to see this rare breed up close before they eventually move to new homes to ensure the lineage of this species lives on. It’s estimated that there are only 450 Amur tigers left in the world, and we are so proud to be able to play a part in the conservation of such a rare species.

“Yana is a fantastic mother, and guests may see her showing the cubs how to hunt as well as how to protect themselves when they visit although they do spend a lot of their time playing in the paddock and splashing in the pool!”

Yana and the cubs are pictured playing in the Safari and also shortly after birth.

Across Mother’s Day weekend, 29-30 March, mums can go free to Longleat using the code MUM25 to book online at longleat.co.uk