By Danny Penman
Last updated at 9:20 AM on 09th June 2008

The two boisterous young tiger cubs leapt onto my lap and started pawing playfully at my face.

Although they were only eight weeks old, I could already feel the power behind their little swipes as their sharp claws raked across my skin.

The cubs soon shifted their attention to my shoelaces and began to play-stalk them, their little bottoms swaying slowly from side to side.