Scientists at the Ussuri Nature Reserve have identified the father of the tigress Serga’s cubs. The studies of the cubs’ fur taken off a marked tree by scientists from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution showed that Banzai is the father. Banzai is most likely the largest tiger in the reserve: he weighed 212 kg in 2011 when he was caught and donned with a tracking collar.

Reports about Serga’s new cubs appeared in late November last year. Then the female and her three cubs were recorded twice near the marked tree by a camera trap.

Scientists said the cubs must now be six months old and are feeling comfortable in the reserve.

Serga was the first Amur tiger caught in 2008 as part of the programme to research the Amur tiger in Russia's Far East. The programme, initiated by President Vladimir Putin, is pursued by the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution. At the time, Serga was the only female Amur tiger who permanently lived in the Ussuri Nature Reserve. She then had three four-month-old cubs who she brought up successfully and had two more litters later.