Tiger Territory officially opens
Image: ZSL London Zoo
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh has officially opened ZSL London Zoo's brand new Tiger Territory enclosure.
The enclosure is part of a £3.6m project that will give the zoo's millions of visitors a chance to come face-to-face with some of the world's rarest tigers.
The territory is home to a pair of Sumatran tigers, Jae Jae and Melati, who have been matched by the global breeding programme for their species.
It is hoped that Jae Jae and Melati will breed at the zoo, helping their species' conservation effort worldwide.
The pair travelled 14,000 from opposed sides of the world to come to ZSL London Zoo and be part of its biggest investment since Gorilla Kingdom in 2007.
A Sumatran tiger birth would also be the first at the zoo for more than 15 years, which just so happens to have been Melati's grandparent.
Tiger Territory is five times the size of the previous exhibit, at 27,000 square foot (2,500 square meters). It also houses trees and a custom-built swimming pool.
There are currently just 300 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
