Without the protection of their father, Machli's family were in danger.

- I'm really worried about these two cubs because they're young male cubs.

There could be a new resident male in the area, so the tigress has to be really careful.

She's got to keep them well protected.

She has to defend them and chase away any male intruder.

In fact, she's bound to fight the male so that he keeps a distance from the cubs.

(tiger growling) (deer screeching) (tiger roaring) Nick was a huge male in his prime.

I shuddered to think what he could do to the cubs.

He could easily kill them in order to mate with Machli and father a litter of his own.

A few days later, I found Machli being pursued by Nick.

He was definitely interested in mating.

(monkey growling) Would she give in, (tiger growling) or would she try and fight him off?

(tigers growling) At first, it looked like she was keeping away from Nick, so he couldn't get behind her and mount her, but Nick was really enticed by her scent.

He didn't look like he would give up.

(tigers growling) For Machli, victory.

For Nick, an injury that would make it hard to hunt.

Now he knew the cubs had a mother who would risk it all to protect them.