
Most adults would admit that bath time can be tricky.

And even this mother tiger seems to be struggling as she attempts to give her cub a good clean.

She had taken her child down to the river in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, India, but the infant was more interested in splashing around and playing games than getting clean.

But the doting mum didn't snarl, and instead gave the youngster a kiss on the lips once she had finished bathing it.

The adorable photos were captured by Ninad Sane, 26, a software tester and amateur photographer from Mumbai. Ninad had been visiting the tiger reserve to observe the big cats' behaviour.

Ninad said: 'I had been waiting to see the tiger mother and her cubs for a long time before they eventually emerged going down to the river.

'The mother was in the water with her cub and it immediately started jumping around and splashing, a lot like a human child would do in the water.

'But the mum had control of it the whole time, even though it just wanted to play. It was really sweet - the mum was very relaxed the entire time.'

The mother tiger took her cub down to the river in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, India

She attempted to give the youngster a bath - but it seemed more interested in splashing around and playing games than getting clean

The tiger mother tried dunking her tiny cub in the water to get it clean

But the baby seemed more confused than anything as it poked it head up out of the river

Tired of washing, the cub began jumping up to its mother, affectionately

It looked as though the mother tiger was hugging her child in this touching photo showing the two interacting

Stop messing around! The cub looks frightened as its mother glares, perhaps warning it to get washing... or else

But no, the brave baby is back trying to jump up on its mother - perhaps hoping to pitch a ride to the riverbank nearby

The doting mum plants a kiss on her child's mouth before the two head back to dry land



