Sanctuary plan to breed wild cats

The wild cat sanctuary hopes it will be able to breed more animals

A wild cat sanctuary in Kent is set to achieve its aim of becoming one of the most vital big cat breeding grounds in Europe and Australia.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Smarden has been told it can extend the number of its outside enclosures to enable it to breed more cats.

Chief executive Mark Edgerley said it was a step to the sanctuary becoming a "breeding centre of excellence".

It currently has 14 cats, most of which are endangered, in 10 enclosures.

Ashford Borough Council agreed to the sanctuary's planning application to expand the site last week.

It means it can now have six new big cat units, giving it the capacity for up to eight new breeding pairs.

The sanctuary's cats currently include snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, Amur leopards and an ocelot.

Mr Edgerley said: "If we don't attempt to maintain a viable population in captivity it just means that our grandchildren and great grandchildren are never going to see that sort of tiger again."