{"id":2175097,"date":"2024-04-29T12:00:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2175097"},"modified":"2024-04-23T13:06:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T12:06:41","slug":"the-ultimate-tiger-mum-watch-a-tigresss-heart-stopping-battle-to-protect-her-cubs-from-the-jungles-predators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/the-ultimate-tiger-mum-watch-a-tigresss-heart-stopping-battle-to-protect-her-cubs-from-the-jungles-predators\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate tiger mum: Watch a tigress&#8217;s heart-stopping battle to protect her cubs from the jungle&#8217;s predators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tigers, revered apex predators of astounding strength, intelligence and beauty, are the jungle\u2019s most majestic creatures.<\/p>\n<p>But they\u2019re more than just charismatic cats and fearsome hunters \u2013 as the phrase \u2018tiger mum\u2019 suggests, female tigers are also fiercely maternal, and new Disney+ film Tiger reveals this through an intimate portrait of one family.<\/p>\n<p>Narrated by Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Tiger follows the adventures of Ambar, a tigress raising her four cubs in the forests of India. She must deploy cunning and tough love if her babies are to survive to adulthood.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"molvideoplayer\" title=\"MailOnline Embed Player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/embed\/video\/3171943.html\" width=\"698\" height=\"573\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u2018She has a lot to juggle \u2013 keeping them fed and out of danger, while also guiding them to become independent hunters so they can one day leave home and have their own families,\u2019 says co-director Vanessa Berlowitz.<\/p>\n<p>Although being at the top of the food chain means adult tigers have little to fear, their cubs are vulnerable to predators.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Ambar does all she can to protect her cubs from sloth bears, pythons and crocodiles,\u2019 says director Mark Linfield, \u2018but the biggest danger facing them is the arrival of a huge male tiger called Shankar who\u2019s almost twice Ambar\u2019s size.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Male tigers are known to kill cubs that are not their own, which puts Ambar\u2019s offspring in grave danger.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Much of our story hangs on the amazing lengths Ambar will go to in her efforts to protect her cubs from Shankar, using her heart and brains compared to his brawn,\u2019 says Mark. \u2018She really won us over with her resourcefulness.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>And the need to teach her offspring life skills means Ambar has to be cruel to be kind at times. \u2018She patiently watches on as the cubs try to get to grips with hunting,\u2019 says Vanessa. \u2018But she\u2019s also capable of tough love, driving her cubs from her kill when they\u2019re older so they learn to go it alone.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Tiger also shows us India\u2019s diverse wildlife, an array of creatures familiar from tales such as Rudyard Kipling\u2019s The Jungle Book.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018That book brilliantly captures the dramas that happen when animals like tigers, leopards, pythons, sloth bears, elephants, mongooses and peacocks live side by side,\u2019 says Mark. \u2018All these animals also feature in Tiger, and that gives the film an extra dimension that we\u2019re sure people will love.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Filming took place at four tiger reserves \u2013 Satpura, Bandhavgarh and Pench in central India, and Ranthambore in Rajasthan, northern India.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We were blessed to have some of India\u2019s top tiger guides on our team,\u2019 says co-director Rob Sullivan. \u2018They\u2019re very skilled at following footprints and can spot tigers in thick jungle from hundreds of feet away.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>But trying to film Ambar, her cubs and other tigers was still frustratingly difficult; these big cats are so elusive it took the film crew just over four years to get enough footage.<\/p>\n<p>One problem is that tigers sleep up to 20 hours a day. \u2018We\u2019d sometimes go weeks without a good sighting,\u2019 says Mark. \u2018Then we\u2019d have to kick into action when a tiger started stalking. Blink and you miss it.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 644px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=75&amp;resize=75&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=100&amp;resize=100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=150&amp;resize=150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=240&amp;resize=240&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=320&amp;resize=320&amp;ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=500&amp;resize=500&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=640&amp;resize=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=800&amp;resize=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=1024&amp;resize=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=1280&amp;resize=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1&amp;w=1600&amp;resize=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"size-medium\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724275-13314571-A_tiger_taking_a_rest_up_a_tree_Tigers_sleep_for_20_hours_a_day_-a-15_1713448230538.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"A tiger taking a rest up a tree. Tigers sleep for 20 hours a day, which made filming especially difficult  \" width=\"634\" height=\"637\" title=\"\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">A tiger taking a rest up a tree. Tigers sleep for 20 hours a day, which made filming especially difficult<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Capturing Ambar hunting was really hard. \u2018A hunting tiger stays hidden until the last moment,\u2019 Mark explains. \u2018And if it\u2019s hidden from its prey, the chances are it\u2019s hidden from the crew too.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>They also had to contend with the jungle \u2018alarm system\u2019, when other animals alert each other that there\u2019s a tiger on the hunt, which means most hunts fail.<\/p>\n<p>But thanks to the team\u2019s determination, the film opens a window onto the tigers\u2019 world, delivering high-octane action and intimate family moments.<\/p>\n<p>Rob says, \u2018The lives of our tigers took such interesting turns that we\u2019ve ended up with a film packed with genuine drama and emotion.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><em>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/femail\/article-13314571\/The-ultimate-tiger-mum-Watch-tigresss-heart-stopping-battle-protect-cubs-jungles-predators.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">article<\/a> by Vicki Power was first published by The Daily Mail on 20 April 2024. Lead Image:\u00a0A tigress with cub in India\u2019s Bandhavgarh National Park. Female tigers are fiercely maternal, and new Disney+ film Tiger reveals this through an intimate portrait of one family.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>What you can do<\/h2>\n<p>Help to save wildlife by donating as little as $1 &#8211; It only takes a minute.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"border-top: 1px solid white;\" \/>\n<div><script src=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/install-popup-button.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\" defer><\/script><a class=\"dbox-donation-button\" style=\"background: #ededed; color: #333; text-decoration: none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 10px 8px 10px; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; -moz-border-radius: 2px; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: 0 1px 0 0 #a5a5a5;\" href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/focusing-on-wildlife-needs-your-support?amount=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">DONATE NOW<\/a><\/div>\n<hr style=\"border-top: 1px solid white;\" \/>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=75&amp;resize=75&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=100&amp;resize=100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=150&amp;resize=150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=240&amp;resize=240&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=320&amp;resize=320&amp;ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=500&amp;resize=500&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=640&amp;resize=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=800&amp;resize=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=1024&amp;resize=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=1280&amp;resize=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1&amp;w=1600&amp;resize=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-161632\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/payment-methods_300px.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"28\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<hr style=\"border-top: 1px solid white;\" \/>\n<div><em>Focusing on Wildlife supports <a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wildlife-charities-supported-by-focusing-on-wildlife\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">approved wildlife conservation organizations,<\/a> which spend at least 80 percent of the money they raise on actual fieldwork, rather than administration and fundraising.<\/em><i><\/i><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tigers, revered apex predators of astounding strength, intelligence and beauty, are the jungle\u2019s most majestic creatures. But they\u2019re more than just charismatic cats and fearsome hunters \u2013 as the phrase \u2018tiger mum\u2019 suggests, female tigers are also fiercely maternal, and new Disney+ film Tiger reveals this through an intimate portrait of one family. Narrated by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1178,"featured_media":2202236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/04\/18\/14\/83724273-13314571-A_tigress_with_cub_in_India_s_Bandhavgarh_National_Park_Female_t-a-14_1713448230453.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"The ultimate tiger mum: Watch a tigress&#8217;s heart-stopping battle to protect her cubs from the jungle&#8217;s predators","footnotes":""},"categories":[6985,5],"tags":[5858,4146],"class_list":["post-2175097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-wildlife","tag-tiger","tag-tigers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2175097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2175097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2175097\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2202236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2175097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2175097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2175097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}