Curiosity may have killed the cat and it certainly got the better of the Amur Siberian tigers at Longleat yesterday.

They watched on with interest from one of their outoor pens as deputy head warden Ian Turner and his crew built two snowmen.

Once released the tigers approached with interest and soon one of the snowmen had lost its head.

“They were certainly curious as they watched us building the snowmen,” said a park spokesman. “Once out they made stright for them.”

Native to Siberia, the Amur tigers are built to cope with snow. Not so the rhino, although they didn’t seem to mind being out in the white stuff for a couple of hours before retreating to the warmth of the inside.

It was all hands on deck at Longleat yesterday getting across the snow covered park to feed the animals. Longleat’s distinctive zebra striped 4 by 4s were pressed into service to shuttle stranded staff into work.