Awwww!

Four Sumatran tiger cubs have just had their introduction to the big bad world at Paington Zoo in England.

The youngsters - two male, two female - huddled together to get used to the bright spring sunshine.




However, their curiosity soon got the better of them, and they slinked outside at Paignton Zoo in Devon to join their mother Banda.

Each cub has a unique pattern of stripes, which should help their keepers to tell them apart.

The zoo will asking the public to help name them by choosing from a shortlist on its website.

Zoo worker Neil Bemment said: 'At eight weeks the cubs are quite mobile and inquisitive but they still sleep a lot during the day. They are so gorgeous and healthy.'

The two male cubs are now eight kilos and seven kilos and the females seven kilos and six kilos.




They are the result of a breeding programme at the zoo, which is a member of the European Endangered species Programme for Sumatran tigers, part of the global effort to save the species from extinction.

There are thought to be just 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, mainly on the Indonesian island which gave them their name.

All together, now: Awwww!



Peter