Another emaciated Siberian tiger cub saved 'after poachers killed mother'

The latest cub is believed to be the sister of another tigress of a similar age found last week, which is now recovering and is expected to survive. A third sibling is believed to be missing. 

As in the first case, the cub had encroached a smallholding farm in desperate search for food. The cub - almost motionless and hiding between a fence and some roofing slate - was spotted by a resident as she checked her poultry yard in the morning. 

Specialists from the Land of the Leopard National Park and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) were on the spot within 10 minutes. They had been searching for cubs after a sighting of three offspring of an endangered Amur tiger. 

Dina Matyukhina, senior researcher at the park, said: 'At the first glance, it became clear that the cub was very weak and extremely exhausted. It almost did not resist and only growled when experts held it and injected an immobilising drug. 

'The animal has a slight eyes inflammation, which may be an indication of hypothermia, or bacterial infection due to lower overall immunity and exhaustion. Until more information is known about the state of cub's health, it was decided to keep the animal away from the supposed sister rescued a few days ago.'

The latest tigress weighs about 15 kilograms - showing it was severely malnourished. At four months, the animal should weigh almost double this figure. 

The young tigress ate half a kilo a liver, seen as a good sign. The condition of the other tigress has 'improved significantly'.