Tiger cubs undergo a remarkable dietary transformation during their early development. Their journey from relying solely on maternal milk to becoming skilled hunters consuming meat is guided by their mother. This progression involves distinct stages for their growth and eventual independence in the wild.
From Milk to Meat: The First Stages
Newborn tiger cubs rely exclusively on their mother’s milk for the initial weeks of life. This milk is rich in fats and proteins, providing essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for rapid growth and immune system development. For the first few days, a nursing tigress may spend up to 70% of her time nursing, gradually reducing this to about 30% by the time they are a month old.
The transition to solid food typically begins when cubs are around six to eight weeks old. At this stage, their mother introduces small pieces of meat from her kills near the den, or she may bring back small prey like deer or wild boar. Cubs initially gnaw on these pieces, becoming accustomed to the taste and texture of meat. While consuming solid food, they continue to nurse, with weaning usually completed by five to six months of age. This period provides the protein and fat needed for continued development.
Learning to Hunt: Developing Dietary Independence
As tiger cubs mature, their mother teaches them how to hunt. Around two months of age, cubs begin to follow their mother out of the den, though they initially wait in a safe place while she hunts. By six to seven months old, they start accompanying her on hunting expeditions, observing her techniques from a safe distance. During this observational phase, cubs learn to recognize prey, assess vulnerabilities, and understand optimal attack positions.
Play-fighting and mock hunting with siblings develop motor skills such as stalking, pouncing, and swatting. This playful interaction helps them hone instincts and build coordination for future hunting. Between eight and ten months of age, cubs begin actively participating in hunts, initially by blocking escape routes or driving prey towards their mother. The mother may also bring injured or smaller prey back to the den, allowing the cubs to practice their killing techniques, such as the precise neck bite. Cubs remain with their mother, learning and refining their hunting skills, typically until they are 18 to 24 months old, before becoming fully independent.
The Adult Tiger Diet: What They Eat in the Wild
An independent tiger primarily preys on large and medium-sized ungulates, which are hoofed mammals. Their diet commonly includes species such as various types of deer (sambar, chital, sika deer), wild boar, and water buffalo. Tigers are opportunistic predators and will also consume smaller animals like monkeys, peafowl, and fish if larger prey is scarce.
While large prey forms the bulk of their diet, tigers adapt their eating habits based on their habitat and prey availability. For instance, in certain regions, they may hunt animals like gaur, moose, or even young elephants and rhinoceroses. A single adult tiger needs to kill approximately 50 to 60 large prey animals per year to sustain itself, a number that increases for females raising cubs. This diverse carnivorous diet reflects the hunting skills taught by their mothers during their formative years.