Adorable rare tiger cub celebrates first birthday at West Midlands Safari Park

West Midlands Safari Park celebrated the first birthday of a Sumatran tiger cub who started life with a very difficult first year. Lestari, whose birth was on July 4, 2023, was the first Sumatran tiger cub to be born at Kidderminster Nature Park in its history. However, when she was four weeks old, keepers noticed that there was a weakness in her front limbs that affected her development.

Lestari underwent a three-week physiotherapy program involving exercises and using walking aids to strengthen her legs. The hard work finally paid off and Lestari can now run, jump and bound like any big cat should.

Lestari got her own little treat for her birthday, with the guards bringing her a selection of goodies, including a cake made from frozen goat’s milk and pieces of meat, as well as some blood-shaped ice blocks .

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Chief carnivore keeper Chris Hodgkins described the tiger’s progress as “a success”.

“ Lestari went from strength to strength. This has created a very special bond with all of us and to see her progress and get stronger every day has been very rewarding.

“Lestari is very active and mischievous – she will always explore any enrichment we offer. Although she seems very independent at times, she still looks for her mother, Dourga, and never strays far from her.”

Hodgkins said the guards worked very hard to ensure a very smooth introduction to her father, Nakal, with whom she bonded extremely well.

“We often see her playing with Nakal and giving it a good run! It’s amazing to see that our efforts from a year ago have paid off and we are all very proud of the young tiger that Lestari has become.”

Sumatran tigers are native to one of Indonesia’s largest islands and are classified as “critically endangered,” meaning that there is an extremely high probability that they will face extinction in the near future. Fewer than 400 individuals are estimated to be left in the wild, and the number appears to be declining.

All tigers in the wild face an uncertain future due to human conflict, habitat loss and poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts.

Hodgkins said that was one of the reasons why every effort was made to ensure Lestari’s survival and why her birth was a watershed moment for the Park and its conservation efforts.

Lestari can be seen with her parents, Dourga and Nakal, in Tiger Tropics, located in the Passage area of ​​the Park.

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