Reproduction Characteristics of the Frozen Super Cat
- Tigers produce on average 2.4 cubs every 21 months, but about 50% of cubs die before reaching one year of age (many die when their mothers are poached). Cubs who survive their first year are raised with little or no help from father. These cubs will stay with their mother for two or three more years.
- After two years the Males venture off to find their own territory, during this time they are very easy pickings for predators and poachers
- Females after three years leave their mom to travel a few miles to set up their land close to their mother
- Approximately 80% of tiger mortality in Russia is caused by humans. Protection from human-induced mortality would increase tiger density and reproduction, as tigresses could live long enough to ensure their offsprings reach maturity
- In the wild, an average life span for a Siberian tiger is 25 years for both male and female, they are both sexually mature after 4 years of age
- mating season occurs late winter early spring, females go in search of males leaving scratch marks and urine on trees, after finding a male she will only be receptive for a short week, during that time they will mate several times. gestation last 93-111 days
- Each female tiger requires about 250-450 km2; therefore the largest protected area within the tiger range (Sikhote-Alin Reserve, 4,000 km2) shelters only 10-15 tigresses.