Can you help name twin tiger cubs at Banham Zoo?
A vote is running on social media
Banham Zoo in Norfolk has opened a public vote, to help them name two young tiger cubs.
The Amur tiger twins were born on 7th October, as part of a genetically-matched conservation programme for endangered species.
Zoo keepers have put together a shortlist names, with a vote running until Christmas Eve.
Daniel Poole, Senior Keeper at Banham Zoo, said: “Some of the ideas behind the names we have chosen relate to the natural ranges of the Amur tiger, with tributaries of the Amur river whilst the other names have meanings behind them such as ‘gift from god’ and ‘light of god’.”
Their mother, Mishka, was moved to Banham Zoo in May 2021 following identification as a genetically compatible mate for the zoo’s resident male, Kuzma.
Vote for the tiger twins' new names
A shortlist of four names per cub has been decided on by keepers.
For the male cub: Luka, Yury, Khabib and Nikolai.
For the female cub: Ussuri, Kira, Luda and Yana.
To vote, leave a comment on the zoo's Facebook post:
Daniel continued: “The cubs are developing well and are growing each day, not just by size but by confidence too. They are exploring all corners of their enclosure and their new favourite game is chasing their mother Mishka’s tail as she walks.
“The female is very confident and outgoing, whereas the male is a little more reserved. He lets his sister go exploring first, but follows closely behind in her footsteps.”
The Zoo says the pair have started to explore their outdoor and indoor enclosures during the past month, with their personalities "shining through" for guests.
Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are one of nine subspecies of tiger – three of which are now extinct. Due to its Siberian habitat, the Amur tiger has a long coat of fur and a large ruff around its jawline. Amur tigers are the largest of the world’s big cats, as well as the heaviest.
They are classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and hunting, with only around 500 thought to be left in the wild.
The Zoological Society of East Anglia, the charity which runs Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive in Suffolk, works with The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) breeding programme to conserve the populations of endangered animals, including tigers. The programme coordinator issues pairing recommendations for zoos all over Europe based on the genetic importance of potential offspring.
This breeding programme maintains a population of around 250 Amur tigers housed in EAZA zoos which are managed by a breeding programme coordinator to maintain as much genetic variability as possible.
Rayo Premium