Rare tiger cubs meet their dad for the first time

The cubs play together in their woodland enclosure earlier this spring Credit: Woburn Safari Park

Two rare and critically endangered tiger cubs - born at a Bedfordshire zoo - have met their dad for the first time.

The female Amur tiger cubs were born at Woburn Safari Park in September last year and are the first tigers to be born there in 23 years.

The family spend a lazy afternoon together Credit: Woburn Safari Park

Mishka and Milashki are slowly being introduced to their four-year old father, Elton, in the run up to Father’s Day on Sunday.

They spent the first nine months solely with their four-year old mother, Minerva, in a nine acre woodland reserve and tailor-made tiger house.

A wide-eyed cub in the bespoke Tiger House a few weeks after birth Credit: Woburn Safari Park

Over the last month keepers have been bringing dad back into the fold with regular visits, so that a natural hierarchy can be re-established in the group.

Keepers are delighted that the introduction of dad and the cubs has gone smoothly and they will begin to spend a little more time with each other in their woodland reserve.

Dad and daughter cub take a walk in Woburn’s woodland reserve Credit: Woburn Safari Park
Dad tells daughter to stop playing with her food! Credit: Woburn Safari Park

There are only about 520 Amur tigers - also known as Siberian tigers - in the wild and 326 in captivity across Europe and Russia.

Major decreases in tiger populations over recent years are due to poaching for body parts and loss of habitat.