Rare Amur Tiger Cubs Born At Knowsley Safari

We’re thrilled to share some truly exciting news – two Amur tiger cubs have been born here at Knowsley Safari, marking a major milestone in the conservation of this incredible and endangered species.

Our six-year-old female Amur tiger, Yuki, gave birth to the cubs on Tuesday 29th July and is doing a fantastic job feeding and bonding with her little ones in their cosy den. Yuki arrived at Knowsley Safari in February 2025 as part of a global breeding programme, and these births are the first Amur tiger cubs to be born at the Safari in almost 30 years – the last being in 1996!

The cubs’ father, our seven-year-old male Amur tiger Makari, remains in his neighbouring paddock. We’re keeping a close eye on the new arrivals remotely to allow Yuki and her cubs plenty of peace and privacy during these early days, and we’re seeing them grow stronger and more curious each day.

While the cubs remain tucked away in their den for now, visitors can still catch a glimpse via our ‘Cub Cam’ on the 10,000 square metre Tiger Trail. We expect the cubs to start exploring the paddock later this autumn – and we can’t wait for you to see them in person!

We won’t know the sex of the cubs until their eight-week health check, but what we do know is that their arrival is hugely significant for the future of the species. There are only around 500 Amur tigers left in the wild, with the population under serious threat from poaching and habitat loss in the Russian Far East due to logging and deforestation.

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. We’re proud to play our part in international conservation efforts and to contribute to the global breeding programme that aims to secure the future of the world’s largest big cat.

Pete Johnson, our Animal Team Manager - Carnivores, 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.”

As part of our wider conservation efforts, we’re proud to support WildCats Conservation Alliance projects, which are dedicated to protecting wild tigers and ensuring they can thrive for generations to come.

Keep an eye on our social channels and website for more updates on the cubs’ development – and in the meantime, you can find out more about our conservation work and book your tickets to visit us here.