Longleat tiger dies after big cat fight at safari park

A tiger has died at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire after a fight broke out between three of the big cats.

The female Amur tiger - called Shouri - died after she entered an adjacent paddock and fought with two other tigers at the site, near Warminster.

A park spokesperson said a door was left opened which allowed the 13-year-old tiger to leave her enclosure on Monday, February 11.

The incident happened while staff attempted to move the tigers between outdoor paddocks.

“During the process of moving the tigers between the various outdoor paddocks, a door connecting two areas was opened which meant Shouri was able to gain access to the same outdoor area as Red and Yana,” the park spokesperson added.

A full investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tiger's death.

The safari park was not open to the public at the time of the incident and both Red and Yana were not injured, the spokesman said.

Shouri was 13 and had arrived at Longleat in 2006, while Red and Yana arrived last year as a breeding pair, as part of the European Endangered Species Programme.