Longleat Lion Cubs join the pride

Eight Longleat Tiger cubs have been released to join the rest of the pride at the safari park near Warminster. 

The cubs were introduced to the outdoors for the first time since being born in August. Despite the rainy weather the cubs willingly went outside. 

The cubs were also reunited with their mum's Nikata and Louisa taking it in turns to ambush them and playing in the mud. 

Longleat Keeper Bob Trollope said: "Nikata and Louisa don't seem to have a problem joining in the rough and tumble games with their cubs."

"Both mums have four cubs with two of each sex and Hugo is also a first time father, however he is considerably less interested in the youngsters and soon went back to what male lions do best- sleeping!"

This is the first time Longleat's 'woodland' pride has had cubs.

Each cub was born weighing one kilogramme each.

The lions and their cubs can be seen in Longleat's Safari enclosure. For more information about days out in Longleat, visit the website here.