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HeWhoWalksWithTigers — Uninvited Affection

Published: 2008-07-06 07:30:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 4060; Favourites: 205; Downloads: 801
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Description Sumatran tigers at the Toronto Zoo again.

From birth, mother tigers are intensely dedicated to taking care of their cubs, but there comes a time where they have to go out on their own - after all, resources are scarce and the wilds are unforgiving. Eventually, mother tigers will push out their cubs. For males, this is thought to occur at about 24 months old and they will disperse out into the landscape looking for their own territories, challenging males and avoiding those they would be unwise to challenge. For female cubs, the process is more gradual, occurring at about 36 months; however, females are more tolerated and will establish their own territories around their mothers'. Mothers may even partition parts of her territory for her daughters. After this occurs, females will come back into estrus and will attempt to attract mates and begin the process again.

The cub in this photo looks its coming along in age and this mother seems to be inclined to let him find his own way.

Hopefully, this fulfills your "Aww" of the day.

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Tigers are the largest of the big cats and are exclusively found in Asia from India to Vietnam, from Indonesia to the Russian Far East. The tiger can be divided into 9 subspecies: 4 are currently critically endangered and 3 are already extinct. Though estimations of tiger populations only a few years ago was 5,500-6,000, today populations are likely closer to 3,500 and are still declining. Dramatic declines of the tiger in India, thought to host the majority of the world's tigers, have fallen to less than 1,411. Overall, the past decade has seen a 40% reduction in tiger habitat, which now represents a mere 7% of its historic range. Poaching is a significant problem throughout the tiger's range, the demand for its body parts in traditional medicines, tonics, and exotic dishes driving a lucrative trade that is wiping out entire populations. Long-term threats include habitat fragmentation and prey depletion, which is accelerating the tiger's demise and subsequently reducing the long-term genetic viability of many populations.

If you want to help, the best for you to do is to educate yourself ([link] ), never buy products made from tigers or endangered species ([link] ), and tell others. Contact me for more information.
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Comments: 42

FashioNoble [2014-10-04 05:56:33 +0000 UTC]

Cub: Hi Mama
Mom: Scat brat!!

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sharlicious [2014-05-09 09:13:17 +0000 UTC]

left: you're cheating on me
right: come on, dont be mad, i <3 ya the most.


lol..

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BStrudle [2010-03-07 20:19:16 +0000 UTC]

"Aww" factor is now at a 10

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CinderFox73095 [2009-12-19 03:10:24 +0000 UTC]

lmao XD

Cub:
Mom:

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xXForbiddenxFruitXx [2009-10-13 22:58:22 +0000 UTC]

this did fulfill my "Aww" of the day =3

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Frazzled-Niya [2009-03-09 06:35:24 +0000 UTC]

Baby wants hugs but Mum's busy...XD;

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to Frazzled-Niya [2009-03-09 06:41:51 +0000 UTC]

She had a thorn up her ass that day. She just wasn't in a good mood. The cubs got the hint eventually, but they had a short memory.

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Frazzled-Niya In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2009-03-09 08:48:20 +0000 UTC]

awww poor Mum.

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RedWolfmoon [2009-02-05 06:52:12 +0000 UTC]

It's okay cub, I know how you feel, my own mom is like that... so hard to get a hug anymore, she's all grumpy out.... walks over and hugs mom:

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to RedWolfmoon [2009-02-05 07:07:10 +0000 UTC]

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RedWolfmoon In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2009-02-05 17:48:06 +0000 UTC]

She's my mom and that's just how she is. I get lovings every now and then but, like most large predators, it has to be on her terms or she gets grumpy. lol

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peki-vremen [2008-10-06 02:50:35 +0000 UTC]

haha like my cats! One is very affectionate and the other is 'get off me you stinking cat!' hehe this is a great contrast of emotion

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Ellygator [2008-07-09 17:18:07 +0000 UTC]

Amazing interaction!

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to Ellygator [2008-07-09 21:34:19 +0000 UTC]

No kidding, eh? Thanks for the comments!

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filemanager [2008-07-09 03:05:48 +0000 UTC]

Congrats, you got the Grand Feature in my journal!

I featured this deviation here --> [link]

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to filemanager [2008-07-09 11:17:53 +0000 UTC]

Holy crap. Thank you!

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filemanager In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2008-07-09 13:44:09 +0000 UTC]

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narare [2008-07-08 07:48:49 +0000 UTC]

Mrrr... ^______________^

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GreySnowCat [2008-07-08 04:33:29 +0000 UTC]

Awww, cute

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Stefi-Delly [2008-07-07 14:06:18 +0000 UTC]

Lol, nice

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milotikus [2008-07-07 10:06:32 +0000 UTC]

keren brro ^^

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to milotikus [2008-07-07 22:15:12 +0000 UTC]

Not sure what that means, but thank you!

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milotikus In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2008-07-08 12:12:01 +0000 UTC]

ohh.. i think u are indonesian sorry . it mean= cool dude!!

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to milotikus [2008-07-08 13:50:21 +0000 UTC]

Indonesian? Cool. Take pride in your country...it still has tigers!

Thank you very much!

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milotikus In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2008-07-08 15:06:23 +0000 UTC]

yeah

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Goshawk [2008-07-06 22:34:55 +0000 UTC]

I aww'd.
It kinda reminds me of my mother and myself... except it's my mom who tries to smother me with affection. lol

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to Goshawk [2008-07-07 00:03:10 +0000 UTC]

=3

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Nyuka [2008-07-06 15:42:00 +0000 UTC]

That's a BIG cub! xD Nice shot

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to Nyuka [2008-07-06 18:02:05 +0000 UTC]

I use the term "Cub" loosely...he's more of a subadult.

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Nyuka In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2008-07-07 03:20:49 +0000 UTC]

Haha, alright

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redkam [2008-07-06 15:11:30 +0000 UTC]

Aw! She seems to be saying ... "Get a job, you bum!"

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to redkam [2008-07-06 18:02:22 +0000 UTC]

lol

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Mijouji [2008-07-06 11:12:44 +0000 UTC]

Aww...SO ADORABLE! I really love tigers!

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AokiBengal [2008-07-06 09:10:24 +0000 UTC]

Great capture!
I love her expression. Sort of like "Don't you be lovin on me, you're movin out today! You've been with me long enough, Inside of me and outside of me, so enough of your pulling on my tail and biting of my ears, now off with you!"
I love how expressive tigers are!

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to AokiBengal [2008-07-06 18:07:07 +0000 UTC]

Hey...they'll always let you know how they feel!

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queenpili [2008-07-06 08:25:25 +0000 UTC]

His expression says "mom, leave me alone!" ^^

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to queenpili [2008-07-06 08:31:00 +0000 UTC]

It's actually the mom that's bothered!

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queenpili In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2008-07-06 09:52:25 +0000 UTC]

Oh, hehehe.

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GeneralMishap [2008-07-06 07:33:37 +0000 UTC]

XD WONDERFUL.
What a great expression.
And you seem to be doing this for a good cause. ^^

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to GeneralMishap [2008-07-06 08:05:57 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for your compliments!

The reason I'm on dA is to get people interested about wildlife. People want to save things that they love!

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GeneralMishap In reply to HeWhoWalksWithTigers [2008-07-06 19:28:12 +0000 UTC]

You've got talent and a cause--that's so great!

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HeWhoWalksWithTigers In reply to GeneralMishap [2008-07-06 19:56:24 +0000 UTC]

Well... I do have a cause!

Thank you!

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