Rare Sumatran tiger cubs TWINS emerge from their den at Chester Zoo for the first time

With only 350 specimens left in the wild, the Sumatran tiger is one of the rarest tiger subspecies in the world.

But new hopes have been sparked for the endangered species after not one, but two tigers were born at Chester Zoo.

The adorable boys were born on January 7th and have been linked to their parents, Kasarna and Dash ever since.

This week, the cubs emerged from their den for the first time and photographers were on hand to capture the precious moment.

“The boys are still a bit shy, going in and out of dens with Mama Kasarna, but it will be a real privilege to see them grow in confidence and really show their vibrant personalities,” said Dayna Thain. Carnivore keeper at Chester Zoo.

Sumatran or Sunda tigers are the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and are characterized by heavy black stripes on their orange coats.

There are an estimated fewer than 400 tigers living in the wild on the island of Sumatra, largely due to deforestation and poaching.

The twin cubs were born in January but stayed in their den for the first three months, where their parents – as well as the zookeepers – kept a close eye on them via video surveillance.

“We have been keeping a close eye on Kasarna with our CCTV cameras as she grapples with motherhood and her first litter of cubs. It’s a real privilege and incredibly special to look at,” said Dave Hall, Carnivore Team Manager at Chester Zoo, after her birth in January.

However, the adorable young have now ventured onto a “rough and boisterous beast,” allowing zookeepers to identify them as females.

Zookeepers have named one cub Alif – a popular name in Indonesia – and the other Raya after Mount Raya in Sumatra.

“These majestic animals hang by a thread in Sumatra,” Ms. Thain said.

“They are one of the rarest tiger subspecies in the world so it’s absolutely wonderful to see these two cubs thriving here.

“With so few Sumatran tigers left on the planet, Kasarna’s girls are vital to the conservation breeding program that works tirelessly to prevent the species from becoming extinct.”

The tiger cubs aren’t the only new arrivals at Chester Zoo in recent months – the world’s rarest chimpanzee was born late last year.

The western chimpanzee baby was born on December 9 after an eight-month pregnancy.

Andrew Lenihan, attraction team manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to see a precious new baby join the chimpanzee troupe.

“Mum ZeeZee and her new arrival bonded immediately and she is doing a great job of rocking and caring for him.”