Reproduction

     Tiger’s are solitary animals which means they live and thrive on their own besides when they mate. The mating system is called polygynandrous, which means that one male might have offspring with multiple females. This mating system leads to greater diversity, less competition for females and a greater protection for the young (Animal Diversity Web).

     Female tigers every three to nine weeks, during this period they will mate with a male tiger. These animals stay pregnant for an average of one hundred and three days and give birth to an average of two to three cubs (Encyclopedia of Life).

 

     The cubs are born blind and after a week or so after birth the eyes begin to open. Like other mammals, the mother will care for and protect the cub. The young cub is taught to stalk, attack and kill the prey before it can become fully independent. A female tiger reaches sexual and reproductive maturity around age three or four and a male will reach maturity at age four or five. A female usually gives birth every three years but usually depends on the amount of time it takes for the cubs to reach maturity. Although the tigers are fertile year round, most will give birth between the months of November and April (Ullas-Karanth 1995).

 

To read more about the Interaction of the Panthera tigris click here: Interactions

Back to Homepage