Play is important to young tigers.
It teaches them the skills that they will need as adults to hunt and defend their territories.
Cubs are extremely frisky, exploring everything in their range.
They are particularly fond of tree climbing during this phase.

Although this young cub seems to be an independent spirit, it must rely on its mother for food until it is about a year old and can hunt on its own.

And in spite of all the care and protection given to them by their mothers, almost half of all cubs born in the wild do not survive their first two years. Those that do survive have an average life span of twenty-six years.