Latest news with #Dourga
BBC News
18-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
First outdoor steps for West Midlands Safari Park endangered cubs
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 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". 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." 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 park estimated there may only be about 400 Sumatran tigers left in 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 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. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Endangered tiger cub triplets born at safari park
A new set of critically endangered tiger cub triplets have been born at a wildlife park. The three Sumatran tiger cubs arrived at West Midlands Safari Park (WMSP) in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on 17 January. They will spend their first few weeks alone with their mother, 13-year-old Dourga, before keepers enter the den to carry out health checks. It is likely to be this summer at the earliest before visitors will be able to see the cubs. Dourga gave birth in an indoor den where the cubs, who are born blind, have since been learning to suckle and taken their first tentative steps. Head keeper of carnivores Kasha Carter said staff would not disturb the family until the cubs were about eight weeks old. "We've got to let mum do what she wants to do," she explained. "We just take a back seat and let her do what she wants to do because naturally that's what would happen in the wild. The mums spend about 70% of their time in the den nursing. "Then we'll go in at eight weeks to do vaccinations like your cats and dogs at home. "So we'll do microchip, vaccinations, health checks and we should be able to know the gender by that point as well." The cubs will be named once their sexes are known - like all animals born at the park this year, their names will begin with the letter N. Their father, 10-year-old Nakal, and their big sister, 18-month-old Lestari, can already be seen at the site. The park said there were estimated to be fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal poaching. Only about 400 of them are Sumatran tigers. The ones at WMSP are part of a conversation programme run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. "The fact that we are part of this European breeding programme is fantastic and we get to contribute three new little members to it," said Ms Carter. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. First Sumatran tiger cub born at park in 50 years Safari park welcomes baby giraffe Endangered zebra Manilow born at safari park West Midlands Safari Park European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
BBC News
31-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
West Midlands Safari Park welcomes endangered tiger cubs
A new set of critically endangered tiger cub triplets have been born at a wildlife three Sumatran tiger cubs arrived at West Midlands Safari Park (WMSP) in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on 17 will spend their first few weeks alone with their mother, 13-year-old Dourga, before keepers enter the den to carry out health is likely to be this summer at the earliest before visitors will be able to see the cubs. Dourga gave birth in an indoor den where the cubs, who are born blind, have since been learning to suckle and taken their first tentative keeper of carnivores Kasha Carter said staff would not disturb the family until the cubs were about eight weeks old."We've got to let mum do what she wants to do," she explained. "We just take a back seat and let her do what she wants to do because naturally that's what would happen in the wild. The mums spend about 70% of their time in the den nursing."Then we'll go in at eight weeks to do vaccinations like your cats and dogs at home. "So we'll do microchip, vaccinations, health checks and we should be able to know the gender by that point as well." The cubs will be named once their sexes are known - like all animals born at the park this year, their names will begin with the letter father, 10-year-old Nakal, and their big sister, 18-month-old Lestari, can already be seen at the park said there were estimated to be fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal about 400 of them are Sumatran ones at WMSP are part of a conversation programme run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria."The fact that we are part of this European breeding programme is fantastic and we get to contribute three new little members to it," said Ms Carter. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
