WEST Midland Safari Park has recently welcomed a new critically endangered Sumatran tiger. 

Dourga, a ten-year-old female, arrived at the tourist attraction on August 6, from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland. 

Following a settling-in period, she will be introduced to the Park’s male Sumatran tiger, eight-year-old Nakal, in the hope that they may become a breeding pair.

Originally born in France, at Le Parc des Félins, Dourga has already mothered two cubs and has been identified as a compatible match for Nakal, hoping that the couple will play an important role in protecting their species from extinction.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are delighted that Dourga has arrived with us after several months of planning. She travelled well and has settled in very quickly, meeting all her new keepers who were very excited that she has joined the WMSP family. They have reported that she is a very calm and friendly cat, so I can see her quickly becoming a favourite with guests.

“Once she has finished her quarantine period, she will be slowly introduced to our male, Nakal, as part of a European breeding programme recommendation. It is our hope that they will have cubs together in the future. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, so it is very important to bring the right individuals together to ensure the survival of the species in the longer term.”

It is estimated that there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild and only 400 of those are Sumatran tigers, gaining them their ‘critically endangered’ status. 

Dourga is currently in an area not viewable to the public while she settles in, but Sumatran tigers Nakal and Hujan, can be seen on the four-mile safari drive-through.