South China Tigers Born

(HO, AFP/GETTY IMAGES / August 28, 2008)
Picture released on August 29, 2008 showing a critically endangered South China Tigress named Madonna, in an innovative rewilding and breeding project in South Africa, has given birth to two cubs - a boy and a girl. The cubs were born during the Olympics in dense bush of Laohu Valley Reserve. These were the first cubs to be born in the Save Chinas Tigers project under completely natural conditions without observation or any human intervention. Mother Madonna reared her babies with the usual tiger instincts, hiding them in grass, under trees, in bushes, moving them from time to time. The cubs were not seen by the projects staff until 10 days after the birth. The cubs, hidden in a hollow grassy area under a tree, looked healthy and feisty, and made hissing sounds when approached.