In early September 2012, tigress Varvara gave birth to cubs at the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. Since October 2011 Varvara has been monitored by means of a GPS-collar under a Sikhote-Alin Reserve - Wildlife Conservation Society joint programme. During the first two months, Varvara kept the tiger cubs in a small difficult-of-access area of the reserve. When the cubs got stronger and began to eat meat, the tiger mom began to show them the territory and took them to find hoofed prey. In early December, with the first snow, the scientists established that Varvara had three cubs. Occasionally, Varvara’s paw prints were accompanied by the paw prints of a male tiger, nicknamed Murzik, an indicator that he was the father of the cubs.    

To get more information on the life of the tiger family, cameras were set up in the reserve. The scientists regularly received photos of Varvara and Murzik, but hadn’t received any of the cubs. Varvara was a very cautious mother and kept her cubs out of sight. The first winter was hard for the cubs who were born in autumn, but they successfully braved the winter.

During the summer, the scientists tried to record the tiger cubs with the cameras, but Varvara was avoiding the major paths where she risked meeting other large predators, such as bears and wolves.  

The scientists obtained their first photos in early November when they were 14 months old. So far these photos show only two cubs, however the paw prints on the sand near the cameras confirm that three cubs are present and alive. The next day, the same camera recorded Murzik; he was following his family.