The cubs were proving to be somewhat of a handful for Sveta today, just like toddlers can be when they don't listen to their parents.

Tigers use several vocalisations to communicate with each other and one of these is what is known a 'chuffel'. Sveta makes this noise when she greets her cubs or Kuzma after she has been away from them but she will also make this sound when she wants them to follow her. Several times today she was seen making this sound, turning to look at the twins and then repeating herself but the cubs were too busy having a wrestling bout to listen. She had to turn round, walk back to them and break them up before they would follow. She didn't get far before they were both rolling around on the floor, play fighting again.

Eventually though they did listen to mum and all three went for a cat nap in the sunshine.