Endangered tigers celebrate first birthday

Three endangered tigers have celebrated their first birthday with a rummage through a pile of cardboard boxes.

Nova, Nadirah and Naresh have turned one and Kasha Carter, head of carnivores at West Midlands Safari Park, said: "As we all know cats love boxes, so we thought we would treat them to a massive stack of them."

The Sumatran tiger cubs were born as part of a European breeding programme, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) believes there may be just 400 of their species left in the wild.

They are said to be close to extinction because of habitat loss, conflict with humans and poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts.

A handful of guests got to see the one year olds destroy the tower of boxes to claim the snacks hidden within.

The safari park said Nova was the first to discover the presents and there were a few "sibling squabbles" for the best boxes.

Carter said: "Transforming simple things [like boxes] into a world of play, curiosity and growing strength, is all a vital part of how the cubs have spent their first year of learning."

The safari park said play like this was "essential for supporting animals' physical health and psychological well-being, encouraging them to express natural behaviours".

The tigers were born as part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-Situ Programme), which is a collaboration between European zoos.

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