Research overview: paternity and reproductive success in wild tigers

Understanding which male tigers father cubs in wild populations clarifies the species' mating system and informs management of small, fragmented populations. This overview surveys efforts to assess paternity in wild tigers using genetic sampling, often from non-invasively collected material, and what these reveal about male reproductive success and territory tenure. It reviews how dominant territorial males typically sire cubs within their range and how male turnover affects reproduction and infanticide. The review connects paternity to population genetics, connectivity, and inbreeding risk in isolated reserves. Understanding tiger paternity in the wild is valuable for conservation, since the reproductive contribution of individual males and the movement of genes between populations bear on long-term genetic viability.