Rare Tiger cubs are causing a lot of excitement at Chester Zoo.
The three Sumatran Tiger cubs, have been making a few guest appearances at the zoo after being born at the end of October.
Staff and zoo visitors have been enthralled to see the cubs coming out to play with their mother Kirana in recent weeks. The father of the cubs is four-year-old tiger Fabi.
The cubs are very important for the species, as it is thought there are only around 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, because they are hunted for traditional medicines.
The cubs have yet to be named, as zoo staff have to wait a few weeks before they can tell what sex they are.
Tim Rowlands, curator of mammals at the zoo, said: “Sumatran tigers can only be found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and are one of the rarest big cat species in the world.
“It’s estimated that there are just a few hundred left in the wild and only around seven per cent of their original habitat remains, which is why these triplets are so, so important.
“To think they’re now part of a safety-net in case wild populations go extinct is pretty remarkable and quite humbling.
“We are thrilled, Kirana is very happy and we are sure our visitors will be equally delighted.
“She has started to take the cubs out and about every now and then having looked after them inside her den for the last three weeks, and is being a very attentive mum.”
Members of the public were being asked to vote on a unisex name for one of the cubs during a competition in December.