Powerful, ferocious and uniquely beautiful, tigers are often a favourite among those who visit zoos and wildlife parks. They also feature in movies, songs, storybooks and even theatre for preschoolers, engaging our curiosity and affection, and enjoying some memorable names. But tigers don’t only have fun names in fiction - some of the animals in the world’s zoos and safari parks have been given adorable names too. 
 

Shere Khan - The Big Cat Rescue 

Shere Khan was the formidable Bengal tiger from Rudyard Kipling’s story, The Jungle Book. With his name deriving from ‘shere’ which means ‘tiger’ and ‘khan’ which means lord or ruler, it’s clear this name has a very strong meaning. Many zoos have followed suit naming their very own tiger kings after this well-known character. The Big Cat Rescue in the USA, for example, had a male tiger who was rescued in 1995 and stayed at the sanctuary for almost ten years before passing away in 2014. 

Mazyria - Toronto Zoo

Mazyria - or Mazy for short - is the name of the female Amur tiger at Toronto Zoo. In 2021, Mazy gave birth to three cubs, becoming one of the oldest mothers in the Species Survival Plan, which aims to maintain healthy captive tiger populations and support reintroductions into the wild. Mazy celebrated her 19th birthday in June 2026. 

Bingtang - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Boasting a unique and catchy name, Bingtang the Sumatran tiger forms part of the conservation programme at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Washington, USA. With his name meaning ‘star’ in Indonesian, Bingtang is a much loved member of the zoo and has displayed a confident presence and curious nature since his arrival. Affectionately called Bini, this tiger is one of very few Sumatran tigers in accredited North American zoos, making his genetics very important for the subspecies’ survival. 

Siberia - Hertfordshire Zoo, UK

As an Amur tiger living at Hertfordshire zoo, Siberia is aptly named considering Siberia is home to this tiger subspecies. According to the zoo’s official website, Siberia is a quiet and complex character. She likes to quietly judge everything around her and is an expert stalker, moving silently to blend in with her surroundings before she pounces. Her favourite thing to do is to shred a cardboard box into a thousand tiny pieces for her keepers to pick up.

Ginger Biscuit - Woburn Safari Park

Born in 2024 at Longleat, Ginger Biscuit is one of four sisters and was named for her beautiful orange fur.  She quickly developed from a vulnerable baby into a playful and curious cub, becoming known on the estate for her love of the tiger habitat’s pond, where she and her siblings spent a lot of time playing. She moved to Woburn Safari Park in July 2026. 

See The Tiger Who Came to Tea this summer

If you love tigers, don’t missThe Tiger Who Came to Tea theatre show in London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer. As one of the best theatre shows for under 5s, it retells Judith Kerr’s popular story with songs, dancing and magic, keeping youngsters entertained with plenty of interactive moments. Book your tickets today.