Yuki's big move
4 February 2025

Yuki, one of our family of Amur tigers, has left for a new home as part of the European breeding programme.
The five-year-old tiger has moved to Knowsley Safari in Merseyside where it is hoped she will breed with Makari, who has been at the park since 2023.
Yuki’s parents, Yana and Red, and cub siblings Ginger Biscuit, Dora-Boo, Heidi and Seeka will stay and are the biggest family group of the rare breed in the UK; there are only around 450 Amur tigers in the world. These include Yuki’s brother Rusty who moved to Blackpool Zoo in 2023.
Kayleigh Smith, Lead Carnivore Keeper, said: “Yuki is an incredibly intelligent tiger. She started learning from mum Yana from a very early age about how to do all the things an adult tiger does and always appeared to be a step ahead of her brother Rusty.
“Having watched Yana raise her younger sisters, Yuki loved playing with our new tiger cubs through the fence, never failing to give them a 'chuff' greeting.
“She has an excellent relationship with her keepers, and is known for being very photogenic, often posing over the tiger pond in the drive-through enclosure. She is going to be missed greatly by everyone on the team.
“As animal carers, our ultimate goal is to boost the populations of rare species, like the Amur tiger. We are already so lucky to have watched Yuki grow up from a tiny cub to the impressive adult tiger that she is today. It would be an incredible success for the Carnivore team and Longleat for her to enter the European breeding programme and raise cubs of her own. We know she is going to make us proud.”
Pete Johnson, Deputy Team Manager, Carnivores at Knowsley Safari, said: “We are delighted to welcome Yuki to Knowsley, she’s settling in wonderfully well and is already proving popular with the animal keepers. Planning Yuki’s move with the Longleat team has been a truly rewarding experience and we’re excited to keep everyone up to date with her news, as she makes Knowsley her home.”