Rare Amur tiger cubs born at Knowsley Safari

Knowsley Safari in Merseyside has welcomed the arrival of two Amur tiger cubs, marking a significant milestone in protecting the future of this big cat species – the largest in the world, which is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Five-year-old female Amur tiger, Yuki, who arrived at Knowsley Safari as part of a global breeding programme in February 2025, gave birth to the two cubs on Tuesday 29th July and is doing well feeding and bonding with her offspring in their cosy den.

Visitors to the Safari will be able to see the cubs on the Safari’s ‘Cub Cam’ on the 10,000 square metre Tiger Trail, until they venture out in the paddock, which is expected to be later this autumn. Seven-year-old male Amur tiger, Makari, who fathered the cubs, remains in his neighbouring paddock.

These are the first Amur tiger cubs to be born in the UK since May 2024, when four female cubs were born at Longleat Safari. Knowsley Safari won’t know the sex of Yuki’s cubs until their eight-week health check. This is the first time in almost 30 years an Amur tiger has been born at Knowsley Safari, with the last tiger birth being in 1996.

There are only around 500 Amur tigers left in the wild, and the cubs at Knowsley mark an important step forward in conservation efforts to protect the species, which is at risk in the Russian Far East from poaching and loss of habitat due to logging and deforestation.

Pete Johnson, Animal Team Manager - Carnivores, at Knowsley Safari, says: “We’re over the moon to welcome the new Amur tiger cubs and to see Yuki bonding with them so well. We’re monitoring remotely and it’s lovely to see the cubs finding their feet and getting noticeably bigger each day. Importantly, the cubs’ arrival also brings hope for the future of these incredible big cats.”

Knowsley Safari supports Wildcats Conservation Alliance conservation projects, which aim to save wild tigers for future generations. To find out more about Knowsley Safari’s conservation activities and to book tickets, please visit: www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk.