TWO Siberian tigers have left Howletts Wild Animal Park, at Bekesbourne, near Canterbury, for a new home in the African sun.

Devoshka and Cuddles, two Siberian tigers born at Howletts, are starting a fresh life at The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in South Africa as part of a breeding programme.

A six-man team led by Howletts senior cat keeper, Jim Vassie, and Howletts and Port Lympne vet, Richard McCort, took on the delicate operation of darting and crating up the two strikingly beautiful tigers. Cuddles, the male, weighed a huge 220 kilos and the female, Devoshka, 155 kilos.

A thorough medical examination took place while the tigers were sedated to give them a full bill of health before leaving Howletts.

They were then loaded into a freight van and delivered to South African Airways Cargo at Heathrow accompanied by Mr Vassie.

Cuddles and Devoshka arrived safely in South Africa and are both settling in well.

The Siberian tiger is an endangered species, with estimated numbers down to around 200 remaining in the wild.