Trio of rare tiger cubs spotted in Thai national park

Trio of rare tiger cubs spotted in Thai national park

A national park in Thailand has not one but three reasons to celebrate after confirming a rare Bengal tiger is raising a trio of cubs in the protected area.

Trio of rare tiger cubs spotted in Thai national park
@Kaengkrachannationalparkofficial/Facebook

Park rangers first spotted a single cub with its mother on a camera trap last year in Kaeng Krachan National Park, around 130 kilometres (80 miles) southwest of Bangkok.

VIDEO: Mom finds side of weed in kid's meal

But further footage, retrieved only this week from cameras damaged by heavy rain last year, confirmed that the litter is three-strong.

The camera trap footage shows the three cubs scampering in leaf litter while their mother prowls around.

The video of the feline family captured in July was published by the national park on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

"Based on the timeline, we estimate the cubs are now about six months old," Mongkol said.

LOOK: Optical illusion picture leaves people confused

Six adult Bengal tigers currently live in Kaeng Krachan National Park -- a UNESCO World Heritage site spread over densely forested mountains along the border with Myanmar -- two males, two females and two whose sex is unknown.

Bengal tiger sightings are rare.

However, park officials spotted another Bengal tiger in Kui Buri National park, south of the capital Bangkok, earlier this year.

VIDEO: South Africans not impressed by Brits comments on SA

It was the first sighting of the animal in that park in more than a decade, according to Thai authorities.

Thailand has one of the few remaining breeding populations of Bengal tigers, which roam just a handful of countries, including India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan.

Bengal tigers are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list of threatened species due to hunting and wildlife trafficking.

VIDEO: New South African spin on a chicken nugget

Today, only around 4,500 are estimated to remain, according to the IUCN.

Conservation successes have increased the Bengal tiger populations in India and Nepal in recent years.

Tune in to 'The Drive with Rob & Roz', on weekdays from 16:00 – 19:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.

Listen to Jacaranda FM: 

Follow us on social media:

Main image courtesy of @Kaengkrachannationalparkofficial/Facebook

More on Jacaranda FM


Show's Stories