Thousands of people queue to see the odd couple tiger and goat

It is now about 40 days since the goat was fed to the safari park Siberian tiger as live prey for him to hunt - but the pair ended up becoming best friends. The New Year holidays bought 3,000 visitors on one day alone to see the unusual pair. 

Staff leave had to be cancelled at Primorsky Safari Park as record numbers braved the cold to see the Amur the tiger and Timur the goat. 

Dmitry Mesetsev, park director, said: 'We have never seen so many visitors. On the New Year weekend, everyone decided to come to witness Timur and Amur. We asked the workers to cancel their break and come to work. 

'We are even thinking about asking police here to keep the order. At least, 1,000 are here right now.'

The tours included a description of how the pair became friendly, and the way they have defied experts by remaining at ease in each others company. Visitors say the tiger and goat chasing each other and lying together in the sun. 

Fears that the tiger would suddenly kill and eat the goat have proved wrong - so far. 

For those who can not come to see Amur and Timur the park launched live webcast from CCTVs.