The tiger, an apex predator known for its striking power and solitary nature, commands respect across its range. Much of its behavior remains hidden within the dense forests and tall grasses they inhabit. A frequently asked question concerns the fate of its offspring: does a tiger ever turn its predatory instincts toward its own young?
Infanticide in Tigers: The Direct Answer
Infanticide, the killing of cubs, does occur in the tiger population, though it is not a common event. The primary actor is almost always an unfamiliar adult male, not the cub’s biological father. When a new male takes over a territory, he may systematically seek out and kill any cubs present as a documented reproductive strategy. Consumption of the cub (cannibalism) sometimes follows, allowing the male to regain energy.
Maternal infanticide, where the tigress herself kills her offspring, is far less frequent. A mother may abandon or kill a cub that is deformed or severely weak, conserving limited resources for the stronger siblings. Stress, particularly for first-time mothers or those facing a severe lack of prey, can also lead them to sacrifice the litter.
Evolutionary Reasons for the Behavior
The male’s motivation for infanticide is rooted in evolutionary biology and the drive to pass on his genes. A tigress will not re-enter estrus, the period of sexual receptivity, while she is nursing and raising a litter. Raising tiger cubs is a long commitment, requiring the mother to care for them for up to two years. This prolonged period significantly delays the male’s ability to mate with her. By killing the existing cubs, which are not his own, the male accelerates the tigress’s reproductive cycle, inducing her to become sexually receptive again within a few months. This strategy maximizes the new male’s genetic contribution to the population.
Maternal Protection and the Solitary Mother
The tigress is fiercely protective, and her solitary nature is, in part, a defense mechanism against this threat. She remains vigilant against unfamiliar males, recognizing them as a direct danger to her young. During the first few months, the mother keeps her cubs hidden in a secluded den site, moving them frequently to prevent a male from tracking their scent. If a strange male is encountered, the tigress will engage in an aggressive defense of her young, often fighting to the death to protect the litter.
In one documented case, a tigress successfully chased off an intruding male but succumbed to her injuries the following day. Another protective strategy involves moving cubs a significant distance, sometimes over 20 kilometers, to relocate outside the territory of a threatening male. This intense maternal defense ensures that infanticide remains a relatively infrequent event in the wild.