White Tiger Fertilization

Fertilization in mammals such as the White Tiger is generally the same as fertilization in human beings. The egg must come in contact with the sperm and through that process a new life is created.

The offspring of mammals are not born immediately after the parents have mated. In the fertilization of mammals, a period of development is necessary. This period is called gestation (in humans we call it pregnancy). Gestation takes place in an organ in the female called the uterus.

This special organ is found beside the abdomen, close to the ovaries where the eggs are produced. In order for fertilization to occur, the sperm of the male is released into the female's vagina, and travels through the uterus until it goes up the oviduct, reaching the ovary where the egg is released. Once it reaches the oviduct, the egg and the sperm meet and fertilization occurs through the formation of a zygote.

Once the zygote begins traveling through the oviduct, it will start dividing until it becomes a blastocyte. After the blastocyte reaches the uterus, it adheres to the thin lining known as the endometrium. This process is called implantation. At this point the female tiger is said to be pregnant and this signals the beginning of gestation where an embryo develops and grows. The Gestation period, lasts for 103 days ( 3 Months), after which the tigress will give birth, on average, one to six cubs.