Stripe a pose: Tigress and cubs’ rare jungle photoshoot steals the show
In a thrilling leap forward for wildlife conservation, a tigress known as F22 and her adorable cubs have been snapped in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, boosting hopes for Thailand’s endangered big cats. This magical moment, captured by automatic camera traps, shines a spotlight on the nation’s roaring commitment to safeguarding these majestic creatures.
Porayut Waiwong, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 14 in Tak, excitedly revealed yesterday, April 1 that the footage marks a triumphant moment in their ongoing conservation mission.
“It’s a rare glimpse into the lives of these elusive animals.”
The footage, taken on the night of February 15, shows F22 and her cubs, estimated to be between four and six months old, in tip-top condition. This comes as a delightful follow-up to F22’s first camera sighting in 2022, which had already raised hopes for cubs, Bangkok Post reported.
Piya Pinyo, sanctuary chief, explained how the journey began with assistance from the World Wildlife Fund.
“In December, we spotted both large and small tiger prints near Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. This prompted the installation of additional cameras to confirm the presence of the growing family.”
The cameras didn’t just capture the stripey stars of the show. They also filmed a fascinating lineup of other wildlife, including a leopard, hyenas, wild boars, wild deer, and a barking deer. The jungle’s alive and kicking.
Tigers in Thailand face a precarious future, but these sightings suggest a possible population boost, said Porayut underlining the importance of thriving ecosystems.
“Their survival depends on healthy prey populations.”
In Thailand, home to a population of around 160 wild tigers, this discovery is more than a pleasant surprise, it’s a beacon of hope for the ongoing battle to protect Asia’s regal felines.
In similar news, earlier this year a tigress and her three cubs were recorded roaming Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirming that Thailand’s largest wild cats are successfully breeding in the protected forest.
The footage, captured by camera traps deep in the jungle, shows the tigress, identified as KKT-003F, leading her three cubs through the wilderness. At the time, officials estimated that the cubs were about six months old.
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