Remarkable video shows endangered tiger cubs being born in Yorkshire

Tigress Tschuna and the cubs’ father Vladimir are Amur Tigers, whose numbers in their native habitat in the Russian Far East have dwindled to around 450 due to poaching and disappearing habitat.

The four year-old mother was hand-reared from birth and rangers at the Doncaster park were concerned that her maternal instincts might not kick in. But she has so far proved to be a model mum, as the pictures of the birth and Tschuna greeting her new cubs have shown.

Kim Wilkins, carnivore team leader at the park, said: “We watched the birth as it happened on the CCTV camera, as Tschuna had hidden herself away in peace and quiet of the cubbing den. It was a very special moment and an incredible privilege.

“It was so heart-warming to see how Tschuna took to motherhood and how natural the new family is. Both the birth and her bonding to the cubs was all captured - it is truly enchanting footage and I am glad that we are able to share it with everyone.”

The cubs were born on March 29th and Tschuna is still caring for and feeding her cubs. They will not be seen by visitors at the park for some weeks yet.

Tschuna was rejected by her own mother at birth at Wuppertal Zoo in Germany before moving to Dudley Zoo and then into a purpose built reserve in Yorkshire.

The Park will monitor the progress of the cubs and will release more news through social media.