Tiger Cubs

Hey Readers,

I sure hope you've enjoyed my first 3 articles...Kindly +1, like, favorite or comment and i will happily reply.

Now, more on tigers...

So, i was doing a bit of reading on tiger cubs. Here's a photo...so adorable, don't you think? 

Female tigers give birth about once every two years to an average of 3 cubs. Interestingly, cubs are born blind, only obtaining full vision after a couple of weeks and are completely dependent on their mother for survival.  They weigh between 785 and 1610 grams. The cubs, having been raised solely by their mothers, stay with her until they are two years old as she teaches them how to hunt and protect themselves. Sadly, only about half of those born survive to reach maturity for one reason or the other. However, if a litter dies, the female tiger can be able to produce another litter within 5 months...Just want to put a smiley right there!

By nature, tiger cubs are rather active and spend their days playing with one another and rolling around in mock fighting. They feed on milk until they are two months old, and thereafter their mother will begin teaching them how to hunt for their own prey. Female tigers nurse their cubs up to 6 months of age and thereafter, the cubs begin accompanying her on hunts. As a matter of fact, they become accomplished hunters by the time they are 18 months old! Cool..ha?

As you may have guessed, male cubs are more adventurous than their female siblings, which sadly accounts for the survival rate of female cubs being higher. Major threats to young cubs include predators, fires and floods. However, as they get older, they face being killed or injured during training or hunting. Female cubs tend to find personal territories close to their mothers while the male cubs wander further away from her. I guess that's the trend for all creatures, right?!

Did you always wonder why a mother tiger licked her cubs endlessly? Turns out, she does this to stimulate the cubs circulation and bowel movements! And as disgusting as this sounds, she may even go to lengths of eating her cub's faeces in order to protect them from potential predators detecting their scents! How great a love is that?

I guess when I think about how much mother tigers cares for her cubs, I cannot help but appreciate them more...Cheers to all mother tigers!