When we left off, the new mother tiger was teaching her cubs how to survive in the wild.
Now the cubs are half-grown and developing their own personalities. However, they still stick together and need to learn more crucial survival skills, including how to fight. They practice with each other, and although it may appear aggressive, it’s always controlled and they rarely hurt one another.
“Growing Up in the Tiger Family” Source: YouTube, Uploaded: BBC Earth
Last Moments as a Family
Tiger cub playing with her mom. Softeis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As the 2-year-long documentary begins to wrap up, the cubs are nearly fully mature adults. Their mother is growing increasingly irritated with their presence in her space, and it will soon be time for the tigers to go off on their own.
“Tiger Cubs’ Last Moments as a Family” Source: YouTube, Uploaded: BBC Earth
Tigers Birth to Adulthood
Tigers are considered cubs for two years, and thereafter are old enough to go off and live independently. For most of a tiger’s life, that is on average 10–20 years, they live solitary lifestyles and claim a territory entirely of their own.
Female tigers reach sexual maturity at around 3–4 years old, and males at 4–5 years. Around 2–4 cubs are born from a pair every two years, but the infant mortality rate is about 50%.
Siberian tiger mother and cub (Panthera tigris altaica). Image via Depositphotos
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Panthera tigris. Image via Anil Öztas, FALCC-BY-NC-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Growing up in the Highveld, but now residing in Cape Town, Amy’s love for the natural world developed in her youth while travelling around the beautiful landscapes of South Africa. Amy holds a BSc in Microbiology and Physiology and has a passion for science communication. She likes to keep active and spends her free time playing sport, hiking, running, and rock climbing.
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