
This is the moment a rare Sumatran tiger had the time of his life splashing around and frolicking in the mud.

One of just 400 left alive on our planet, the beautiful creature showcases his tremendous power as he leaps through the water to retrieve a chicken drumstick treat.

The joyful instant was captured at feeding time by manager, Tanto Yensen, 36, at the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta, Indonesia.

A rare Sumatran tiger has been snapped having a frolicking good time in muddy waters. One of just 400 left alive on our planet, Sumatran tiger, Lano is pictured covered in mud and full of the joys of spring

The beautiful creature can be seen showcasing his tremendous power as he leapt through the water

It is no surprise that the tiger, who has been named Lano, looks right at home in the water.

Sumatran tigers in the Indonesian wild are excellent swimmers and can pursue prey in swamps, rivers and forests with ease.

Typically they would capture and consume a variety of prey, ranging in size from termites to elephant calves.

Most of their meals would be larger offerings than drumstick-sized portions, with large-bodied prey weighing about 20 kg or larger such as moose, deer species, pigs, cows, horses, buffalos and goats making up much of their diet.

Tragically the species are extremely rare and and classed as 'critically endangered' due to their scarcity in the wild.

Manager Tanto Yensen, 36, from Jakarta Indonesia was lucky enough to captures these images on a trip to his local Ragunan Zoo

It is no wonder that Lano looks right at home in the water, as Sumatran tigers in the Indonesian wild are excellent swimmers and can pursue prey in swamps, rivers and forests with ease

Typically in the wild Sumatran tigers capture and consume a variety of prey, ranging in size from termites to elephant calves

Conservationists blame dwindling numbers on increased deforestation as well as continued poaching and the twin threats have sparked fears they could end up extinct.

According to the WWF, most of the wild Sumatran tigers are found in protected areas of the Leuser ecosystem, Kerinci Seblat, Bukit Tigapuluh, Berbak, Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas.

However the market demand for tiger parts in Indonesia, with exports (for supplying traditional Chinese Medicine) and the domestic market (for skin and teeth), remains a constant threat.

In the last 50 years, Indonesia has lost both the Bali tiger and Java tiger.

A DWINDLING POPULATION AND NO DECLINE IN POACHING: HOW THE SUMATRAN TIGER IS FIGHTING FOR ITS FUTURE According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are now fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. The tiger subspecies is classed as 'critically endangered' and they are holding on for survival in remaining patches of forest on the island of Sumatra. Conservationists blame dwindling numbers on increased deforestation as well as continued poaching and the twin threats have sparked fears they could end up extinct. Although they are protected by law in Indonesia, with tough sentences handed out for poaching and heavy fines, there is still a 'substantial' market for tiger parts and products within Sumatra and wider Asia. Sumatran tigers weigh between 156 and 308 pounds and typically live in tropical areas of forest as well as peat swamp and freshwater swamp habitats. Advertisement

According to the WWF, most of the wild Sumatran tigers are found in protected areas of the Leuser ecosystem, Kerinci Seblat, Bukit Tigapuluh, Berbak, Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas

Most of the tiger's meals in the wild would be larger offerings than drumstick-sized portions, with large-bodied prey weighing about 20 kg or larger