A rare sighting of a wild Siberian tiger mother and her four healthy cubs was captured on video in northeast China's Jilin Province, signaling the improving habitat quality in the region.
A local resident ran into the tiger family on Thursday evening while driving home on a forest road in the Wangqing County. The phone footage he filmed showed the four cubs frolicking on the road before nimbly stepping aside as the vehicle's headlights swept over, closely watched by their mother. The driver stayed quiet, kept his speed low, and drove on only after the whole family had left the road.
After the encounter, the local forestry and forest police authorities issued safety warnings for the area, continued tracking the tigers' movements, and stepped up patrols along key forest roads. They also reminded the public to stay calm, back away slowly, and report any encounters with wild Siberian tigers.
Among the world's most endangered big cats, the Siberian tiger is found only in the forests of northeast Asia. In China, its wild population has grown from 27 in 2017 to 72 this year, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Rare video shows Siberian tiger mother leading four cubs in northeast China
