A Rare Tiger Behaviour Recorded in Nepal's Bardiya National Park

That is why a recent observation from Nepal's Bardiya landscape has caught the attention of wildlife experts around the world.

While filming the BBC documentary Tiger Island, researchers recorded what appears to be the first documented case of a wild tigress caring for another mother's cubs in the forest of Bardiya National Park.

The discovery was not immediately obvious.

Researchers first noticed a tigress named Goma moving with five cubs. The number seemed unusual, as Goma was known to have only two cubs of her own. After reviewing drone footage and following the tigers over time, the team realised that three of the cubs belonged to another tigress, Jugini.

What surprised them even more was the behaviour that followed.

"I have never seen this kind of thing, one mother leaving her cubs with another, this is definitely something different," said Manju Mahatara, a local tiger guide who worked on Tiger Island.

The BBC tiger island drone footage suggests that one tigress was comfortable leaving her cubs under the watch of another female while she moved elsewhere. For an animal long considered one of the most solitary big cats in the world, the behaviour raises important questions.

One possible explanation is that cooperation may help protect cubs from threats in the wild, particularly from male tigers. Researchers involved in the documentary believe the two females may be related, with Goma possibly being the mother of Jugini. If true, family ties could help explain the unusual level of trust between them.

What makes the observation even more remarkable is that it was captured in the wild rather than in captivity, where animals often behave differently because of restricted space and human management.

As the scene unfolded, wildlife presenter Gordon Buchanan and the documentary team struggled to make sense of what they were witnessing.

"One mother is looking after all the cubs while the other is eating. No one has ever seen tigers do this before," remarked producer Simon O'Neill.

The footage has not changed the fact that tigers are largely solitary animals. However, it suggests their social lives may be more flexible than scientists once believed.

Perhaps the most striking reaction came from O'Neill himself after months of filming.

"I was about to say tigers are solitary big cats, are they? I don't know anymore. You just don't imagine that there are things to learn still about the most iconic animal on the planet, but there is and it's here."

Even after decades of research, one of the world's most studied predators is still capable of surprising us. And this time, the surprise came from Bardiya National Park, one of Nepal's most important tiger habitats.

Researchers believe this unusual observation may be linked to one of Nepal's greatest conservation achievements: the remarkable recovery of its tiger population.

According to Nepal's national tiger census, the country's tiger population increased from 121 individuals in 2010 to 355 in 2022, nearly tripling in just over a decade. As tiger numbers recover, territories can become more crowded and interactions between related females may occur more often. Scientists say these changing conditions could make previously rare or unobserved behaviours easier to detect.

While tigers remain largely solitary animals, the observation suggests their behaviour may be more flexible than traditional studies have indicated. As conservation efforts continue to restore tiger populations, scientists may uncover more examples of complex social interactions that have long remained hidden in the wild.

For travellers who want to witness this thriving tiger landscape firsthand, Travories' Bardiya Tiger Trail offers guided jungle safaris through the same forests where Goma and Jugini were filmed, giving visitors a rare chance to experience Nepal's tiger conservation success up close.