The dive of the tiger: Big cat makes a splash in animal park waterfall

By Daily Mail Reporter
4 June 2011 

In the searing heat, this tiger was looking for a novel way to cool off as it endured the rising temperature.

The graceful but deadly cat first surveys the drop below before using her huge paws to launched herself into the water.

However, this is no tropical waterfall in the depths of the Indian jungle. Sayan is an endangered Amur Siberian Tiger and is a new arrival at Yorkshire Wildlife Park - and staff say she is proving to be quite the water baby in the heat.

Scoping the area: The tiger is seen carefully treading close to the edge of the waterfall

Down we go: The Siberian tiger leaps over the top and jumps into the water

The three-year-old big cat is one of the attractions at the Doncaster wildlife park's reserve, Land Of The Tiger. When the temperatures rose to 25 degrees, Sayan decided to take an impromptu dip. But the pool at the top of the waterfall wasn't enough to properly cool her down so - to the delight of visitors - she dived down the four-metre waterfall into the lagoon below.

These pictures were captured by David Clarry, who was visiting with his family when Sayan took her waterfall leap.
The Amur tiger is the largest big cat in the world and is the largest and heaviest sub-species of tiger, with males weighing in at up to 700 pounds.

Falling: Paws outstretched, the tiger looks surprisingly calm as it drops through the water

Threatened by habitat loss and poachers, this tiger is critically endangered with fewer than 400 animals thought still to survive in the wild.

A dense coat and a thick layer of fat below their skin enables them to withstand the bitter cold temperatures of Russian winters. And the Amur tiger also has huge paws that help them move efficiently in deep snow. The tiger reserve at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which works to conserve the endangered species, boasts two pools and a waterfall for the water-loving tigers.

Splash landing: The tiger surfaces after her dramatic dive down the waterfall

The tigers' new home has been created at the park alongside a natural British Nature wetlands reserve. Visitors can use a 150-metre walkway which boasts view of the endangered cats on one side and, on the other, the wetland habitat which is home to other birds and animals.


Yorkshire Wildlife Park works closely with biodiversity experts and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to protect and encourage biodiversity in the wetland habitat at the park.

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