Picture by Simon Jones

by James Scott

jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk

Two rare Sumatran tiger cubs have been born at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation’s (WHF) Smarden base.

Toba and Kubu, both males, are the latest additions at the big cat conservation charity in Headcorn Road.

Sumatran tigers, which originate from Sumatra in Indonesia, are one of the rarest big cat species in the world with just an estimated 200 left in the wild.

The 11-week-old cubs were born to parents Puna, aged six, and Nias, aged eight, at the end of the summer.

WHF spokesman Simon Jones said: “With Sumatran tigers there’s actually a loss of habitat so we’re not able to release them back into the wild through the breeding programme.

“They are from the island of Sumatra where they live in rain forest and are threatened as humans have cut down the trees for palm oil and as a result of hunting and poaching.”

The charity, which is not open to the public, runs corporate team building days, photography days and ranger experiences to fund its work.

Toba and Kubu are proving a popular attraction already with the first set of photography days selling out within two days.

For more information or to book go to www.whf.org.uk