Longleat Safari Park has announced the birth of rare twin Amur tiger cubs, born on International Tiger Day, July 29. The cubs, born to parents Red and Yana, are the third litter for the pair at the Wiltshire Estate park. They are currently two weeks old, and their sex has not yet been determined.
Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are the largest wild cats in the world and are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 450 individuals remaining in the wild. This makes the birth of the cubs a significant event for conservation efforts.
Amy Waller, team manager of safari at Longleat, described the arrival as a "real privilege" and noted that it occurs in the park's 60th year. Yana, the mother, has successfully raised six cubs previously. The cubs will nurse from their mother for approximately six months before beginning to be weaned onto meat. Keepers are ensuring Yana receives increased food rations to support her cubs.
Longleat is participating in the European Breeding Programme (EEP) for Amur tigers, which has seen success with previous cubs finding new homes and even having their own offspring. The park is now home to seven tigers, making it the largest family group in the UK, including Red, Yana, Heidi, Seeka, Dora-Boo, and the two newborns.
The park's last litter from Red and Yana arrived in May 2024, consisting of four females: Ginger Biscuit, Dora-Boo, Heidi, and Seeka. Their first litter, born in 2019, included a male cub named Rusty and a female named Yuki, marking the first tiger births at Longleat in two decades.
Details regarding when the cubs will be visible to the public have not yet been released, as they are still very young and will require inoculations before venturing outside. Park staff will provide updates on introductions to "Tiger Territory" and advise visitors to watch closely when driving through the park, as Yana may move the cubs to different paddocks.