Two tiger siblings are settling into their new home at a Kent zoo - but they haven’t had to travel far.

Duke and Tora were the last remaining residents of the Sandwich Wildlife Park following its closure in 2020.

Now they are enjoying their new outdoor enclosure just four miles down the road at Wingham Wildlife Park, where they also have one of the largest tiger houses in the UK and a swimming pool.

The brother and sister tigers were just cubs when they came to the Sandwich site, which the Wingham park bosses bought in 2017.

But it closed during the pandemic and never reopened so the animals have gradually been transferred to Wingham.

The tigers, now seven-years-old, were the last to leave because park bosses had to create their new facilities. But they have been cared for daily by resident keepers.

Park curator Markus Wilder says that although they didn’t have to travel far, it was still a logistically challenging exercise to move them.

The pair were sedated for the short journey and have been getting used to their new surroundings - and the public gaze - once again.

“They arrived on May 22 and have settled in surprisingly well,” said Markus.

“Of course, it’s a big change for them, especially seeing members of the public again.

“But actually, what we found during lockdown is that the animals missed the engagement and sight and sounds of the public.”

Now the seven-acre former Sandwich Wildlife Park lies redundant.

Wingham Wildlife Park financial director Scott Binskin says nothing is planned yet, but the site could potentially be used for a variety of purposes, including new housing, dependent on planning permission.

“Whatever we choose to do with it, the aim will be to reinvest the money into Wingham,” he added.