Many tiger cubs are killed when they first begin hunting, due to being injured while trying to take down prey. Although they may never interact, after leaving to establish their own territories female tigers will often find one that is close to or intersects with their mothers. Male cubs will roam further afield in search of territories, often being allowed to stay as a guest on the far edge of another males territory. When they first learn to hunt, they will watch as their mother stalks and takes down prey.
Much of their play emulates stalking and hunting behaviors. As they get older she will get the prey to the ground then allow the cubs to step in for the kill. After this, the cubs will start to practice their hunting skills on their own. Like humans with brown eyes, tiger cubs are born with milky blue eyes.
As they develop their eyes will slowly change to their signature gold color. The only tigers that maintain their blue eyes are white tigers. White tigers are not albino or a separate species but are white due to a genetic mutation which also causes blue eyes. White tiger cubs account for 1 in every 10, cubs born in the wild. The last known wild white tiger was killed by a trophy hunter in White tiger cubs born in captivity are typically inbred and have a variety of congenital conditions.
They are also usually cross-eyed. The gene that causes their coloring also causes the optic nerve to cross. This can take up to four hours, and because the mother tiger does not assist her cubs in locating a teat, sometimes cubs starve to death. In captivity, tiger keepers often lead the cub to a teat so it can begin nursing.
Though a female tiger gives birth to two to seven cubs in a litter, usually not all of the cubs survive. Often, the mother tiger cannot find enough food to feed herself and all of the cubs. Because of this, usually only two of the cubs in the litter survive to adulthood.
The cubs nurse with their mother until they are about 24 weeks old. At that point, the mother tiger begins to bring the cubs prey to eat such as buffalo, wild pigs, deer or other animals. Male tigers are known to feed they young, to raise them, to protect them and even play with subadult cubs.
Wildlife experts say cubs are usually raised by their mothers and male tigers often kill cubs they come across. Tigers have been known to live to the age of 26 in the wild. Female tigers give birth to two to four cubs at a time, on average, and can do so every two years. The mother must leave the cubs while she hunts, leaving them open to other predators.
Most tiger mothers are unable to kill enough prey to feed a large litter, so some cubs may die of starvation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content. Search for:. Home » QA.
0コメント