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Reproductive parameters of female South China Tigers in captivity

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Abstract

We monitored the reproductive parameters of South China Tigers (SCT) in captivity from 1983 to 2018. Tigers gave birth in all but 3 months of the year, with a peak in May, June, and July (goodness of fit test, χ2 = 49.928, p = 0.000, n = 270 litters from 65 mothers). The minimum age at 1st reproduction was 4.96 ± 2.43 (standard deviation, SD) years. The mean interval between litters was 410.2 ± 290.2 (SD) days (n = 38 pairs with consecutive reproduction). Mean litter size was 2.1 ± 0.9 (SD) (n = 270 litters from 65 tigers). The average survival rate of newborn cubs was 55.7% (SD = 17.7). There was significant maternal age variation among the litters studied. Reproduction mainly occurs in females in their prime (3–14 years old), with little in young and old females (one-way analysis of variance, ANOVA, F = 8.314, p = 0.005). Reproductive parameters of SCTs could be the basis of analysis on the population dynamics and management, and genetic considerations are necessary to plan future breeding programs and to assist in the selection of individuals for reintroduction to the wild.

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Acknowledgments

We express great appreciation to Yin YZ, the studbook keeper of the SCT population from Chongqing Zoological Park, who has provided much support and energy for the data collection and analysis for the conservation of SCT population.

Funding

We thank the Shanghai Landscaping & City Appearance Administrative Bureau for funding this program.

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  1. Shanghai Zoological Park, Shanghai, 200335, China

    Yaohua Yuan, Enle Pei & Qunxiu Liu

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  1. Yaohua Yuan
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  2. Enle Pei
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  3. Qunxiu Liu
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Correspondence to Qunxiu Liu.

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Yuan, Y., Pei, E. & Liu, Q. Reproductive parameters of female South China Tigers in captivity. Eur J Wildl Res 66, 37 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01375-0

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