Tiger Gives Birth (Video)

Watch a pregnant female adult tiger give birth to a cub. She tolerates a human presence, and high-quality video of the birth results. The wild African tiger immediately begins licking the newborn cub, who is born with closed eyes. The man who filmed the video is John Varty, who used two wild tigers to populate his tiger reserve with fifteen. He created the facility, Tiger Canyons, for tiger conservation and study. It is located in South Africa.

When asked why he is trying to raise wild tigers in Africa, though they are native to Asia, Varty replied, “Tiger Canyons is halfway between the 45,000 tigers in captivity, and the 1,500 dwindling tigers in the wild. To be honest with you, I don’t know of one Asian government committed to saving the tiger (this includes India, and Nepal). The human population in Asia is so huge and growing so rapidly that Asian governments are more concerned with growing food, housing, education, poverty, and fresh water for humans than they are about tiger conservation.” (Source: TigerCanyons.com)

There may be as little as 1,000 breeding females left in the wild. The total number of tigers living in the wild is estimated to be just over 3,000.

National Geographic has a TV program about him called Tiger Man of Africa.

Image Credit: Tiger Man of Africa

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Mark T.

3:27AM PST on Dec 7, 2012

Thanks for the video, wonderful animal.

December 7
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Chris C.

9:30AM PST on Nov 24, 2012

Phenomenal video! Heartfelt thanks to John Varty for his tiger conservatism - regardless of where he rears them (his explanation of why in Africa rather than Asia makes sense).

November 24
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Victor M.

1:15PM PDT on Apr 9, 2012

Great video!

April 9
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Cheryl B.

7:10PM PST on Jan 19, 2012

wow

January 19
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Beverly G.

7:45PM PST on Jan 16, 2012

i cudent see the vid. they sed it wasnt availble for UK.

January 16
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Nyack C.

12:01AM PST on Jan 15, 2012

I really like Tiger Canyons and John Varty,but I question it's location in South Africa. The tiger is not native to Africa- it is from Asia.

I think to bring the tiger to Africa will create problems for big cats native to Africa, many of them already close to extinction, such as the Lion and the Cheetah. The leopard isn't endagered yet in Africa, but I can certianly see there would be territory conflicts with tigers. I think the tiger would win, but that doesnt say much for the other native cat species.

January 15
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John S.

1:43PM PST on Jan 14, 2012

This made my day!

January 14
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Waltraud U.

1:30PM PST on Jan 14, 2012

ja, BIRTH IS OK - GOOD THING.
EVERYTHING MUST BE FILMED AND FOTOGRAPHED - THERE IS IN THE LAST HOLE OF THE WORLD NO PLACE TO HAVE PRIVATENESS - EVEN IN THIS VERY PRIVATE CASE. BUT - IF THERE ARE ENOUGH TO STIR - AND HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO LOOK - OK
STRANGE TO ME.
Thanks

Vivianne M.

12:43PM PST on Jan 14, 2012

ty for the video. I have cats and have helped them with their babies. This is good that Mr Varty is helping these beautiful animals continue their lives.

Jane R.

10:48AM PST on Jan 14, 2012

Great video.