Mating & Physical info
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Female tigers reach maturity when they are about 3 years old, males a year or so later. In temperate climates, a tigress comes into estrus (heat) only seasonally; however in tropical climates, she may come into estrus throughout the year. She signals her readiness with scent markings and locating roars. The brief act of copulation occurs continually for a five day period. Tigers are induced ovulators, and must be stimulated through frequent copulation in order to become pregnant. To help stimulate ovulation, the male tiger's penis has spines. This explains in part why the female roars and lashes out at the male immediately following copulation. |
| Following mating, the gestation period for tigers is
approximately 103 days. The average litter size of tigers is 2 or 3 cubs (the largest is
5). One usually dies at birth. Tiger cubs are born blind and weigh only about 2 to 3
pounds (1 kg), depending on the subspecies. They live on their mother's milk for 6-8 weeks
before the female begins taking them to kills to feed. They begin making their own kills
at about 18 months of age. Young tigers leave their mother's range at anywhere from a year and a half to three years of age, depending on whether the mother has another litter. Females tend to stay closer to the mother's range than males. |
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