FIVE tigers could soon be joining giraffes, rhinos and apes at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall.

The owners have submitted plans to North Somerset Council to build five tiger dens and a large tiger enclosure at the tourist attraction.

Two species of tigers – Bengal and Amur – are being bought to the zoo farm, which opened in 1999. Both species of the tigers can weigh up to 300kg.

The tigers, which will be fed on raw meat, will be brought to the centre from zoos and private collections across the UK. It is hoped that the new animals, which are now an endangered species, will be at the zoo farm when it opens for its 2009 season in February.

A large, open-roofed enclosure, about an acre in size, will be built on a former bean field at the farm. The enclosure's sides will be four metres high and made of galvanised steel, painted green to blend in with the surroundings.

Viewing platforms will be created for people to watch the animals and visitors will be able to walk around the perimeter of the enclosure – a metre from the tigers.

Glass pens will also be created inside the enclosure along with ponds and climbing platforms.

A specialist zoo keeper will be appointed to deal with the animals and all keepers will undergo training on how to handle tigers. Security at the farm will be stepped up and keepers will be able to shoot the animals if they escape.

The new arrivals will form part of the zoo's Euro- Asian section where they will join camels already there.

Zoo farm owner Anthony Bush said: "All tigers are endangered species and the only way of ensuring the species for the future is to keep and breed them in captivity. A planning application has now been submitted and if it gets approved we want to start work the very next day on building the enclosures.

"People visiting Noah's Ark will be able to get close up to the tigers and watch them from a barrier a metre away from the main enclosure. They'll literally be eyeball to eyeball.

"We hope the tigers will give an extra dimension to Noah's Ark and create a lot of interest.

"A lot of people are interested in big cats, especially the different varieties.

"We hope that by bringing these animals to Noah's Ark it will show people the urgent need to look after big cats and protect them from becoming extinct."

The zoo farm is already home to alligators, zebras and monkeys and Mr Bush hopes to bring elephants to the attraction in future.

It has had to re-route a public footpath as part of the plans for the new enclosure and has provided walkers with a new five-metre path and picnic tables.

The zoo farm, which Mr Bush runs with his wife Christina, attracted 124,000 visitors in 2007.

It will need licensing by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to keep tigers.