First Outdoor Steps For West Midlands Safari Park Endangered Cubs

Andrew Dawkins

BBC News, West Midlands

West Midlands Safari Park Three tiger cubs are walking together. There are railings on the left of the photo and grass in front of them. One of them is on a paved area, with the other two on the grass. — The tiger cubs have been checked over and given their first vaccinations

A set of critically endangered tiger cub triplets born at a wildlife park have taken their first steps outdoors, after developing “with no concerns”.

The three Sumatran tiger cubs, who arrived at West Midlands Safari Park on 17 January, were outside following a first health check that confirmed there are two girls and a boy.

Now keepers know the sex of them, they have selected the name Nova, meaning new star, for one girl, while the public will choose the other cubs’ names.

They were weighed and given first vaccinations, ready to follow 13-year-old mother Dourga outdoors at the Bewdley attraction.

On Monday, when the door opened to the outside area, Dourga did a check to make sure it was safe, “then returned to the cubs, ‘chuffing’ at them to encourage them to follow her”, the park said.

A chuff “is a low, soft noise which tigers use as a friendly greeting, or in this case, to comfort cubs”.

The male took the first steps outside, followed by the sisters who “seemed delighted to see big sister, Lestari, who is almost two, watching them curiously from the other side of the fence”.

They took their first steps outside under the watchful eye of their mum, Dourga

West Midlands Safari Park Two cubs both have their front legs on mum Dourga's lower back and hind legs, as she lies on the grass. There are green railings behind them. — They took their first steps outside under the watchful eye of their mum, Dourga

Veterinary nurse Sarah Smith said: “The cubs have been showing their own characters recently and we really saw their feisty side during their examinations.

“We were thrilled to discover that we have two females and one male, and loved watching them venture outside.”

The cubs have met their big sister, Lestari, up close for the first time

West Midlands Safari Park Lestari is just behind green railings, with two of the cubs on the other side of the railings in the foreground of the image. One of the cubs is holding on to the railings with their paw, close to Lestari's face. — The cubs have met their big sister, Lestari, up close for the first time

Veterinary surgeon Lindsey Baines said the park was delighted it had three healthy tiger cubs.

“The vet team have been monitoring their development carefully since they were born through the CCTV to ensure there were no issues.

“Their first health checks and vaccinations all went swimmingly, and they are developing as we would expect with no concerns.”

The cubs were weighed as part of the health check

West Midlands Safari Park A cub is inside a basket containing a purple towel, which has been placed on scales. A man stands on the left and a woman on the right, both wearing green jumpers, face masks, gloves and aprons. The woman has her hands hovering above the cub being weighed. — The cubs were weighed as part of the health check

The park estimated there may only be about 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.

The Sumatran tigers at the park are part of a collaboration between European zoos, aiming to conserve endangered species.

The site also partners with conservation organisation WildCats Conservation Alliance, and donates to the Kerinci Seblat Tiger Protection Project, which operates tiger protection and conservation units in Indonesia.

Following a 12-week health check, Dourga and the cubs will be able to go into the wider Tiger Tropics area, where Lestari and dad Nakal are currently seen.

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