
Sumatran tigers at the Toronto Zoo again.
From birth, mother tigers are intensely dedicated to taking care of their cubs, but there comes a time where they have to go out on their own - after all, resources are scarce and the wilds are unforgiving. Eventually, mother tigers will push out their cubs. For males, this is thought to occur at about 24 months old and they will disperse out into the landscape looking for their own territories, challenging males and avoiding those they would be unwise to challenge. For female cubs, the process is more gradual, occurring at about 36 months; however, females are more tolerated and will establish their own territories around their mothers'. Mothers may even partition parts of her territory for her daughters. After this occurs, females will come back into estrus and will attempt to attract mates and begin the process again.
The cub in this photo looks its coming along in age and this mother seems to be inclined to let him find his own way.
Hopefully, this fulfills your "Aww" of the day.
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Tigers are the largest of the big cats and are exclusively found in Asia from India to Vietnam, from Indonesia to the Russian Far East. The tiger can be divided into 9 subspecies: 4 are currently critically endangered and 3 are already extinct. Though estimations of tiger populations only a few years ago was 5,500-6,000, today populations are likely closer to 3,500 and are still declining. Dramatic declines of the tiger in India, thought to host the majority of the world’s tigers, have fallen to less than 1,411. Overall, the past decade has seen a 40% reduction in tiger habitat, which now represents a mere 7% of its historic range. Poaching is a significant problem throughout the tiger’s range, the demand for its body parts in traditional medicines, tonics, and exotic dishes driving a lucrative trade that is wiping out entire populations. Long-term threats include habitat fragmentation and prey depletion, which is accelerating the tiger’s demise and subsequently reducing the long-term genetic viability of many populations.
If you want to help, the best for you to do is to educate yourself (http://www.savethetigerfund.org), never buy products made from tigers or endangered species (http://www.wildaid.org), and tell others. Contact me for more information.
From birth, mother tigers are intensely dedicated to taking care of their cubs, but there comes a time where they have to go out on their own - after all, resources are scarce and the wilds are unforgiving. Eventually, mother tigers will push out their cubs. For males, this is thought to occur at about 24 months old and they will disperse out into the landscape looking for their own territories, challenging males and avoiding those they would be unwise to challenge. For female cubs, the process is more gradual, occurring at about 36 months; however, females are more tolerated and will establish their own territories around their mothers'. Mothers may even partition parts of her territory for her daughters. After this occurs, females will come back into estrus and will attempt to attract mates and begin the process again.
The cub in this photo looks its coming along in age and this mother seems to be inclined to let him find his own way.
Hopefully, this fulfills your "Aww" of the day.
---
Tigers are the largest of the big cats and are exclusively found in Asia from India to Vietnam, from Indonesia to the Russian Far East. The tiger can be divided into 9 subspecies: 4 are currently critically endangered and 3 are already extinct. Though estimations of tiger populations only a few years ago was 5,500-6,000, today populations are likely closer to 3,500 and are still declining. Dramatic declines of the tiger in India, thought to host the majority of the world’s tigers, have fallen to less than 1,411. Overall, the past decade has seen a 40% reduction in tiger habitat, which now represents a mere 7% of its historic range. Poaching is a significant problem throughout the tiger’s range, the demand for its body parts in traditional medicines, tonics, and exotic dishes driving a lucrative trade that is wiping out entire populations. Long-term threats include habitat fragmentation and prey depletion, which is accelerating the tiger’s demise and subsequently reducing the long-term genetic viability of many populations.
If you want to help, the best for you to do is to educate yourself (http://www.savethetigerfund.org), never buy products made from tigers or endangered species (http://www.wildaid.org), and tell others. Contact me for more information.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Tiger
Size 800 x 533px
File Size 427.5 kB
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