Female Siberian Tiger Spotted Caring for Five Cubs—Rare Family of Six Captured on Camera

[Financial News] A female Siberian tiger was caught on camera caring for five cubs in a national park in northeastern China, drawing significant attention.
On the 27th (local time), WWF China announced, according to China Daily, that an unmanned camera installed in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in Hunchun, Jilin Province, captured footage of a female Siberian tiger tending to five cubs.
A comprehensive analysis of the animal’s physique, gait, and body measurements suggests the female is about nine years old, while the cubs are estimated to be six to eight months old.
This is the first time that six tigers have been recorded together in a single frame in China. Wild Siberian tigers typically give birth to one to four cubs, and even in regions with abundant prey, it is rare for five cubs to survive to this age.
WWF China emphasized, "It is extremely unusual for all five cubs to have survived to this age, especially in an area where food resources have not fully recovered."
Sightings of Siberian tigers have become more frequent in China recently. Last month, another female Siberian tiger with four cubs was also captured on camera in the Hunchun Nature Reserve. This female is estimated to be between five and eight years old, with cubs aged six to eight months.
WWF China noted, "As apex predators, Siberian tigers are highly sensitive to habitat conditions and the health of the food chain. The continued observation of tiger families and successful breeding cases demonstrates the effectiveness of long-term conservation efforts in this region."
Stuart Chapman, head of WWF’s Tiger Protection Program (TAI), stressed, "This footage is a reminder of the importance of sustained, long-term efforts to restore tiger populations and protect their habitats."
Also known as the Siberian tiger, this endangered species is primarily found in the Russian Far East and northeastern China. In 1998, only 12 to 16 wild individuals were estimated to exist in China, but now approximately 70 are believed to inhabit the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter