A Siberian tiger has given birth to four cubs in northeastern China. It is the first time quadruplets have been successfully bred in the tiger park in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province.

The birth of the first cub was difficult for the mother and park keepers were concerned that she would not have enough milk for all four cubs – so they arranged for the first cub to be fed by a female dog.

"They can normally give birth to two to three cubs at most. The female tiger delivered four cubs at her first birth. It is quite a lot for her," Cao Tianhai, the park's manager, explained.

Siberian tigers can be found in northeast China and eastern Russia and count as one of the ten most endangered animal species worldwide.

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