In the United Kingdom, at Longleat Safari Park, an event occurred that experts call a significant achievement in the conservation of rare species. On July 29, International Tiger Day, a pair of Amur tigers named Red and Yana gave birth to twins.
This event added special symbolism to the day dedicated to the protection of these majestic predators. The newborn cubs are the third offspring of this pair living in the park. Currently, the sex and names of the cubs have not yet been determined, but park management has already announced its intention to involve the public in choosing names, as was done in previous years.
Maternal Experience and Care
In the video published by the park, you can see the newborn cubs lying snuggled together and making sounds. Their mother, Yana, carefully licks and cares for them. These clips have generated great interest on social media.
Head of the Safari Department, Amy Waller, noted the significance of this event:
«It is a great joy for us to welcome another offspring of these rare, endangered animals. It is especially important that this event took place on the eve of our safari park's 60th anniversary. Yana is a wonderful mother who has already successfully raised six cubs. Therefore, we fully trust her experience».
According to specialists, the cubs will nurse for about six months, after which they will gradually be introduced to meat. It is already noted that the cubs are growing up healthy and strong. In this regard, the mother tigress is given more food than usual to ensure she has the necessary resources to feed her offspring.
Species Status and Breeding Program
The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is considered the largest representative of the cat family among wild animals in the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses it as an endangered species. According to experts, only about 450 individuals remain in the wild.
Longleat Safari Park actively participates in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). While three cubs from the previous litter were moved to other parks to expand the gene pool, Yuki from the first litter has already given birth to her own cubs, which testifies to the success of the program.
Currently, seven Amur tigers live in the park. Among them are Red, Yana, Heidi, Sika, Dora-Bu, as well as the two newborn twins. This has made Longleat the safari park in the UK with the largest family of Amur tigers.
History of Breeding in the Park
For reference, the previous offspring of Yana and Red was born in May 2024. At that time, four females were born — Ginger Biscuit, Dora-Bu, Heidi, and Sika. Their names were chosen based on a public vote. The first offspring of the pair was born in 2019, after a 20-year break at Longleat Safari Park. At that time, two cubs were born — Rusty and Yuki.
The birth of twins on such a significant day underscores the importance of the work of zoos and reserves in preserving the planet's biodiversity. Successful breeding of Amur tigers in captivity is one of the key tools in the fight for the survival of the species.
