AN ON-OFF romance between two tigers is leaving staff at a Kent wild animal park on tenterhooks.

One day the beautiful Sumatran tiger Indah appears fully receptive to her mate Amir, the next they are having a lover’s tiff and she is giving him the big brush-off.

The need to breed at Howletts, near Canterbury, has become acute following reports there are only 400 Sumatran tigers in the world with the threat of extinction a probability if the evil poaching trade is allowed to flourish.

Howletts animal director Neil Spooner said: “Amir and Indah are still getting to know each other. These courtships take time.

“He is very keen on her, and she can be acquiescent to his demands. On the other hand, she sometimes isn’t. She can be quite aggressive at times but he is a big softy.”

The two-year-old tigers were first paired four months ago. Mr Spooner forecasts a cub or two will be produced over the next two years.

Howletts staff are also hoping a pair of Siberian tigers named Malchek and Nica can get their act together.

Malchek, born at Howletts 11 years ago, is thought to care deeply for Nika, born in Southampton three years ago, and breeding is a distinct probability.

Mr Spooner added: “I would urge everyone to have nothing to do with the trade in tigers.

“Unfortunately, this message is not getting across to the public and that is why the tiger population is under the severe threat of extinction.”