In a touching scene of maternal affection, a mother tiger is seen nursing one of her cubs during their first outing at a zoo in Russia.
The seven-week-old cub, part of a set of triplets, appears indifferent while receiving gentle licks from Iris, the female Amur tiger, as they enjoy the outdoors for the first time at the Royev Ruchey zoo in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.
The three cubs, named Kaktus, Jasmine, and Narciss, were born to Iris and her partner, Kedr, adding to their impressive total of seven offspring.
This event is significant for the critically endangered Amur tiger species, with an estimated 300 individuals remaining in the wild, primarily in Russia’s Far East.
Historically, Siberian tigers roamed widely across northern China, the Korean Peninsula, and eastern Russia.
However, during the 20th century, they faced severe challenges, including habitat loss and poaching.
By the 1940s, their numbers had plummeted to just 20-30 in the wild, underscoring the ongoing need for conservation efforts to protect this majestic species.
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