Rare tiger dies in cat fight at British safari park

The female is the second tiger to die at a UK zoo in a week

Shouri, a 13-year-old Amur tiger, was killed after a fight with two other tigers. Longleat

A rare tiger died in a British safari park after a fight with two other tigers.

The 13-year-old female Amur tiger called Shouri moved to the world-famous Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in 2006.

Longleat said the incident happened on Monday when the tigers were being moved between outdoor paddocks at the site in Wiltshire, southern England.

Shouri gained access to the same outdoor area as the two other tigers, called Red and Yana, when a door was left open and a fight ensued.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of one of our female Amur tigers, Shouri, who has passed away following a fight with two of our other tigers here at the park,” a Longleat representative said.

“The dedicated team of keepers who care for our big cats are, understandably, extremely distraught by the events and we are doing everything we can to help and support them.”

Longleat said that Red and Yana, a breeding pair who arrived at the park in 2018  as part of the European Endangered Species Programme, were not injured.

A full investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances behind the tiger’s death.

Melati, a female Sumatran tiger, was killed by another tiger brought in to mate with her. AFP

The Amur tiger is the second endangered tiger to die at a British zoo in a week.

A female Sumatran tiger, called Melati, was attacked and killed by a male tiger at London Zoo on February 8.

The male tiger, called Asim, had been brought in to breed with the female but attacked her soon after being let into her enclosure.

London Zoo said the tiger had "overpowered" Melati before staff could intervene.