3 endangered tiger cubs caught on camera in Thai national park for first time

In a landmark discovery, Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand has confirmed that a rare Bengal tiger is raising three cubs in its protected wilderness. This exciting news comes after park rangers initially captured footage of a single cub with its mother last year. Recent retrieval of additional footage, despite damage caused by heavy rainfall, revealed the full trio of cubs for the first time.

Park chief Mongkol Chaipakdee expressed pride in the discovery, noting that this is the first documented case of a tiger raising three cubs within the national park. The adorable footage, which showcases the cubs playing in the forest while their mother watches over them, was published on the park's Facebook page, with estimates suggesting the cubs are around six months old.

In celebration of this finding, the park has announced a contest to name the three cubs, encouraging public participation with prizes for winning entries. Currently, Kaeng Krachan is home to six adult Bengal tigers, complicating the conservation efforts in a region that serves as a critical habitat for this endangered species.

Bengal tiger sightings remain infrequent in the region. Earlier this year, a separate sighting occurred in Kui Buri National Park—marking the first observation in that area in a decade. Officials have noted that the presence of these powerful predators is a positive indicator of biodiversity and ecological health.

Bengal tigers are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only around 4,500 estimated in the wild due to threats from poaching and habitat loss. Despite these challenges, conservation efforts have led to promising increases in tiger populations, particularly in India and Nepal, offering hope for the future of this majestic species.