Saikhan, a 10-month-old tiger cub who underwent surgery after being injured by poachers in the Primorye Territory, fought with another cub, Lazovka, for the first time since living together at the Centre for the Rehabilitation and Reintroduction of Tigers and Other Rare Animals (Tiger Centre) in the village of Alekseyevka. According to experts, short-term conflicts among cubs mean that social roles are emerging in their group.

“They still play a lot, and their games have become very complex: they include running, hunting (tracking, stalking and attacking) and wrestling. Over the three months, they have fought for the first time,” the centre’s experts said.

Saikhan was a seriously injured cub found in mid-January in the Pozharsky District of the Primorye Territory. He was taken to the rehabilitation centre and underwent complex surgeries. Emaciated Lazovka was caught in the Lazo District in December 2016. Both animals are responding well to treatment at the Tiger Centre.