Hampton schoolboys have come to the rescue of Sumatran tigers at London Zoo.
Tiger keepers at the zoo appealed for donations of unwanted perfumes and scents to help stimulate and enrich the lives of two tigers, Jae Jae and Melati.
Hampton School’s pupils, who raised £400 for the zoo’s new tiger enclosure earlier this year, raided cupboards and drawers and managed to collect 300 bottles of unwanted aftershave and perfume.
The fragrance will be sprayed around the tiger enclosure and encourages natural behaviour by providing a scent trail to help the tigers hunt for and find food, as would happen in the wild.
Tiger keeper Matt Robertson said: “Tigers mainly rely on their sense of smell, so any different scents they come across in their environment is stimulating for them.
“As there are only 300 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, zoos are important for their survival and the more enrichment we provide for them, the better.
“By collecting so much perfume Hampton School has helped to make the lives of the tigers we look after more exciting.”
A plaque recognising the contribution of Hampton School is embedded in the grounds of the tiger enclosure.
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