Endangered tigers latest addition to Scottish centre’s collection of exotic species
Wildlife park confident big cats will find safe haven in new home
Published:
The arrival of two Amur tigers at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig means that firearms will be kept on-site in case the big cats escape.
But it is claimed that the scenario is extremely unlikely and “every reasonable precaution” has been taken to ensure the pair cannot get out of their new enclosure.
The wildlife park has been preparing for the arrival of the felines, also known as Siberian tigers, for the last few months and a vast enclosure has been built on the site.
Sasha and Yuri will be transported to the Highlands from Edinburgh Zoo in the next couple of weeks and will have a few days to settle into their new surroundings before their first public appearance at the beginning of October.
The endangered cats are the latest addition to the park’s collection, which is branching out into more exotic species.
New animal collections manager Doug Richardson said that their enclosure, measuring 213ft by 328ft and full of trees, was much bigger than that at Edinburgh Zoo.
Two members of staff are at Edinburgh Zoo this week to learn more about caring for Sasha and Yuri ahead of their move, and their keeper from Edinburgh will also spend a few days at the wildlife park to ensure that the big cats settle in properly.
Final checks are now being carried out on the enclosure, which has a high perimeter fence.
A special raised platform has been created for the public to watch the tigers.
Mr Richardson said: “It would take an effort of Olympic gold medal quality for a tiger to escape. We are equipped with firearms – short range and long range – and all the necessary projectile dart equipment.”
He said that in the unlikely event of an escape, the tigers would not go charging round the park attacking people, but were more likely to find somewhere to hide.
He added: “It is quite an exciting evolutionary step for the Highland Wildlife Park.
“In the past year or so there has been a significant change of accent as to what species we have here. We are still very much interested in Scottish species but have other animals from similar environments in different countries.”
He said that the tigers were also part of a breeding programme and it was planned to use the animals to educate the public on rare species.
Mr Richardson added: “Scottish wildcats are rarer than these tigers by 50 to 100 individuals.”
Only 300 Amur tigers remain in the wild.
