Tiger Animal Information In English. Tiger is familiar to all of us. But no one dares to see the tiger up close. The tiger is the largest animal of the cat family and lives in forest caves, and 70 percent of the world's tigers are in India. Tiger is used as a symbol of bravery in India. Since 2010, July 29 is also observed as World Tiger Day worldwide. Now tiger is a protected animal in India and poaching is also a punishable offence. So let's know detailed information about tiger today.
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| Tiger Animal Information In English |
Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and are instantly recognizable thanks to their striking orange and black stripes. These apex predators are capable of taking down prey of all sizes, from rodents to elephant calves. Increasingly in recent decades, human activities such as poaching have pushed tigers to the brink. Their range in Asia is a tiny fragment of what it once was, and all remaining tiger populations are threatened with extinction.
Tiger Animal Information In English
- Average length of a tiger - 6 to 7 feet
- Weight - 100 to 200 kg
- Color - Orange Yellow or White with dark black stripes on the body
- Genus - Granular
- Species - Mammals
- Class - Carnivore
- Clan - Marjar clan
- Caste - Panthera
Also, due to many people hunting and living in forests, some of their species have become extinct. Today we can see the wild tiger in countries like India, Burma, Thailand, China and Russia and in animal museums. The number of wild tigers is more than any other tiger
What is a Tiger?
Indian/Bengal tigers are mainly found in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The Indian tiger's diet consists mainly of large wild ungulates such as chital (Axial axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), barasing (Cervus duvacelli), nilgai (Boscelaphus tragocamelus) and gaur (Bos gaurus) and other animals. Pig (Sus scrofa).
It is an opportunistic feeder and can also kill large prey such as elephant calves (Eliphas maximus), gaur (Bos gaurus) and wild buffalo (Bubalis arni). Tigers also occasionally kill sloth bears and leopards as well as small predators like peacocks, langurs, wild birds, rabbits etc.
Tigers are poor climbers when compared to leopards due to their higher body size. They can only climb giant, leaning trees. Tigers, on the other hand, excel at swimming and enjoy being in the water. Tigers have been spotted swimming between islands in the Sundarbans.
Where Do Tigers Live ?
The natural living habitat of tigers stretches from the Russian Far East through parts of North Korea, India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tigers are found living in habitats like dry grassland, mixed grassland-forests, rainforests, and deciduous forests. These regions are also home to a large number of prey species that support the survival of the dense population of tigers and other predators. Densely canopied forests do not make a good habitat for the tigers.
Wild tigers live in Asia. Most populations inhabit tropical regions in countries such as Thailand, India and Indonesia, but tigers can also be found in much colder environments, including in the far east of Russia, according to Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization. Tiger habitats include tropical forests, arid forests, flooded mangrove forests and taigas (cold forests with coniferous trees), according to the San Diego Zoo.
Tigers used to have a much larger range, but poaching, deforestation and other human activities have caused tiger populations and habitats to shrink. Today, scientists estimate that tigers occupy less than about 6% of the land they once did, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Wild tigers live in Asia. Most populations inhabit tropical regions in countries such as Thailand, India and Indonesia, but tigers can also be found in much colder environments, including in the far east of Russia, according to Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization. Tiger habitats include tropical forests, arid forests, flooded mangrove forests and taigas (cold forests with coniferous trees), according to the San Diego Zoo.
Tigers used to have a much larger range, but poaching, deforestation and other human activities have caused tiger populations and habitats to shrink. Today, scientists estimate that tigers occupy less than about 6% of the land they once did, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
What Do Tigers Eat ?
Tigers are mostly nocturnal hunters who stalk and hunt their prey that includes a variety of animals. Although they prefer to feed on large prey like deer (chital, sambar, chital, swamp deer) and wild pigs they also eat smaller animals and this list also includes animals like porcupines. After a tiger has finished eating what it can from its kill, it hides the animal carcasses from vultures and other scavengers, to consume it later.
Tigers are very careful in their selection of prey and they tend to avoid hunting healthy and stronger mammals. However, there have been recorded kills that show tigers attacking larger animals like elephants and water buffaloes. Occasionally, tigers also prey on cattle that they hunt from human habitations. Some even make it a routine to feed on domestic livestock. Sometimes, a tiger may even try and take the kill of other tigers or leopards. They eat carrion too occasionally.
A tiger survives in the wild with its hunting skills. Although the natural instincts of a tiger play a great role in enhancing these skills, maternal training plays an equally important role in helping the tiger obtain its prey. This is one reason why tigers that have been released into the wild after being in captivity for long sometimes do not get skilled in hunting in the wild.
One of the key roles that tigers play in the wild is maintaining the ecological balance. Being the top predator in the food chain, they help in keeping the prey population numbers in check. Not only that, but tigers also help in balancing the number of other predators such as leopards, clouded leopards, and the Asiatic wild dog (dhole).
When a tiger starts to lose its skill of hunting its prey in the wild, it sometimes becomes a man-eater. There are a number of reasons that cause this behavior; lack of prey in the wild, the cubs picking up the habit from their mother, or a disability caused by age or injury. A tiger may also become a man-eater in its defense or to protect its offsprings. As the number of tigers has reduced there have been fewer instances of man-eating tigers except in the Sundarbans regions in the northeast Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (India) and in and around Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal).
What Do Tigers Look Like ?
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| Tiger Animal Information In English |
They can jump up to 32 feet. Tigers' padded paws allow them to be stealth like or silent. When a tiger feels threatened, it simply twitches it's ears. You see, a tiger's ears have distinct white spots on them. These false eyes are used to scare off predators. There are many kinds of tigers, such as: the Bengal Tiger, Siberian Tiger, Sumatran Tiger, Malayan Tiger, Indochinese Tiger, and the South China Tiger.
Lifestyle of Tiger in English
A female tiger is called a tigress and cubs are called cubs. A tiger's lifestyle is limited in its range. A tiger does not allow other tigers to enter its territory. A vajla can give birth to two to three kittens at a time, they look like tiny kittens.Being a complete carnivore, the tiger preys on animals like deer, birds, wild boar, monkeys, sambar, rabbits and makes them its food.
Tigress teaches her cubs how to find prey, how to catch, how to suppress, how to attack etc. Teaches all things. Before eating its prey, the tiger slits its stomach and takes out its intestines and first eats its muscles and then prefers to eat its prey. Also, the tiger is a solitary animal and it accommodates many animals in its territory.
Tiger fights can be deadly. Often the tiger does not tolerate the encroachment of its cubs and even kills them, but often the male tiger is also seen protecting its cubs.
Tigers occupy an important place in the Indian culture. Since ages, it has been a symbol of magnificence, power, beauty and fierceness and has been associated with bravery and valor. The tiger also has a significant place in Hindu mythology as the vehicle of Goddess Durga. In olden times, hunting of tigers was considered to be one of the highest acts of bravery by kings and noblemen.
The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and is at the apex of the food chain. Therefore, the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well-being of the ecosystem. Protection of tigers in forests protects habitats of several other species. Indirect benefits include several ecosystem services like protection of rivers and other water sources, prevention of soil erosion and improvement of ecological services like pollination, water table retention etc.
The absence of this top predator is an indication that its ecosystem is not sufficiently protected. Tigers are both a Flagship and Umbrella species. As a Flagship species they are important for conservation and as Umbrella species, conservation of tigers leads to conservation of other species. Tigers and high intensity biotic disturbances such as poaching and stealing of kills do not go together. If the tigers in the wild have to survive, it is imperative that other species of wild animals that are directly or indirectly a part of the food chain must also thrive. Therefore, the survival of the tiger is an important yardstick to measure the existence of a healthy forest ecosystem.
The Characteristics & Physical Features of a Tiger
The tiger is a powerful and colorful species of big cat. They are native to isolated areas of Asia and east Russia. A tiger is solitary in nature, marking out its territory and defending it from other tigers. In order for it to survive and thrive in its own habitat, the tiger has powerful physical features. From razor-sharp teeth to muscular legs, he can catch prey and put up a fight from potential poachers.
Size
An adult tiger can grow as long as 13 feet (4m) and weigh up to 650 pounds (296kgs). The females are usually smaller than the males. The size of a tiger depends on the subspecies and the geographical location of its habitat. The northern subspecies tend to be larger than those in the south. The male adult Bengal tiger found in northern India can weigh up to 480 pounds (218kgs) and measure just less than 11 feet (3.4m). On the other hand, the Sumatran tiger who’s native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra can weigh up to 265 pounds (120kgs) and measures 8 feet (2.5m).
Hair
Tigers have hair all over their body to insulate, protect and camouflage themselves in their habitat. They have two types of hair--guard hair and underfur. The guard hair is long in length and protects the skin. The underfur is shorter and traps air in order to insulate. The color of the hair provides camouflage. There’s also a distinct dark striping pattern on its hair and skin. Each tiger has its own individual pattern. They are usually light orange to reddish in color. Some tigers whose both parents have a mutated gene can be white in color with brown stripes.
Tail
An adult tiger’s tail can grow up to 3.3 feet (1m) in length. It also uses its tail to communicate. If he is relaxed, then the tail hangs loosely. If he is feeling aggressive, he’ll move the tail quickly from side to side. Alternatively, he’ll hold it low and twitch it every once in a while.
Teeth and Jaw
The tiger uses his powerful jaw to trap and kill prey. Each tiger has approximately 30 razor-sharp teeth in its mouth. Tigers have the largest canines of all big cat species. The canines can grow up to 3 inches (7.6cm) in length and are used to sever the prey’s neck. Back teeth are used to shear meat off the prey’s bone. The small, front incisors pick small pieces of meat and feathers from prey. The older the tiger, the more worn down the teeth get. In the wild if a tiger’s teeth are too worn down and become useless, he could die from starvation.
Legs and Claws
Thanks to a muscular pair of legs, the tiger is a fast predator. Five sharp claws on each foot are a vital weapon against any prey or threat to the tiger. The tiger scratches its claws against trees to sharpen them. A sheath covers them when they aren’t needed. The claws allow a tiger to climb and grasp things. A male’s paws are larger than that of a female tiger.
Eyesight
The tiger has good survival skills with strong eyesight. It has large pupils and lenses, which allows it to see clearly in the daytime. During the nighttime, the tiger can see six times more clearly than humans. This is why it will often hunt for prey at night.
All animals are significant as visible empirical evidence of the power of creation. However, some animals are considered more evolved and significant, like for example, the elephant, horse, cow, bull, boar, tiger and the lion. The other animals enjoy a less exalted status based on their unique triguna or material modes. All animals that are revered demonstrate the outcome of their triguna, the prime driving force of all material beings. Elephants for example, symbolize royalty, majesty, strength, and intelligence. A horse will represent speed, beauty, purity, freedom, grace and strength. The cow symbolizes wealth, compassion, motherhood, sacrifice and auspiciousness. Economic status was measured on the head of cattle one possessed.
The Characteristics & Physical Features of a Tiger
Size
An adult tiger can grow as long as 13 feet (4m) and weigh up to 650 pounds (296kgs). The females are usually smaller than the males. The size of a tiger depends on the subspecies and the geographical location of its habitat. The northern subspecies tend to be larger than those in the south. The male adult Bengal tiger found in northern India can weigh up to 480 pounds (218kgs) and measure just less than 11 feet (3.4m). On the other hand, the Sumatran tiger who’s native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra can weigh up to 265 pounds (120kgs) and measures 8 feet (2.5m).
Hair
Tigers have hair all over their body to insulate, protect and camouflage themselves in their habitat. They have two types of hair--guard hair and underfur. The guard hair is long in length and protects the skin. The underfur is shorter and traps air in order to insulate. The color of the hair provides camouflage. There’s also a distinct dark striping pattern on its hair and skin. Each tiger has its own individual pattern. They are usually light orange to reddish in color. Some tigers whose both parents have a mutated gene can be white in color with brown stripes.
Tail
An adult tiger’s tail can grow up to 3.3 feet (1m) in length. It also uses its tail to communicate. If he is relaxed, then the tail hangs loosely. If he is feeling aggressive, he’ll move the tail quickly from side to side. Alternatively, he’ll hold it low and twitch it every once in a while.
Teeth and Jaw
The tiger uses his powerful jaw to trap and kill prey. Each tiger has approximately 30 razor-sharp teeth in its mouth. Tigers have the largest canines of all big cat species. The canines can grow up to 3 inches (7.6cm) in length and are used to sever the prey’s neck. Back teeth are used to shear meat off the prey’s bone. The small, front incisors pick small pieces of meat and feathers from prey. The older the tiger, the more worn down the teeth get. In the wild if a tiger’s teeth are too worn down and become useless, he could die from starvation.
Legs and Claws
Thanks to a muscular pair of legs, the tiger is a fast predator. Five sharp claws on each foot are a vital weapon against any prey or threat to the tiger. The tiger scratches its claws against trees to sharpen them. A sheath covers them when they aren’t needed. The claws allow a tiger to climb and grasp things. A male’s paws are larger than that of a female tiger.
Eyesight
The tiger has good survival skills with strong eyesight. It has large pupils and lenses, which allows it to see clearly in the daytime. During the nighttime, the tiger can see six times more clearly than humans. This is why it will often hunt for prey at night.
How important is a Tiger in the Hindu culture?
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| Tiger Animal Information In English |
Tigers were feared due to attacks on humans and cattle from time immemorial. There are Veda suktas that are used to subdue tigers, protect people, cowherds and shepherds. But the power and magnificence of the beast was not lost on the people. Tigers represent royalty, majesty, fearlessness, strength and ferocity. It also demonstrated negative or undesirable traits like death, aggression, anger, cruelty and violence.
Because of all these attributes, the Tiger came to be associated with Shakti and its numerous manifestations. Durga, for instance is always shown riding a magnificent tiger or lion. In some Hindu tribal traditions, the tiger is even worshipped as a deity.
Importance of Tiger in Indian Culture
Tiger has a lot of importance in Indian culture. Although the tiger is scary, children are introduced to the tiger as the king of the jungle.
Tiger is a symbol of bravery and royalty as well as beauty and ferocity. In Indian culture, Goddess Mahishasura, who is an incarnation of Mother Parvati, has become a tiger as the vehicle of Mardini and her many forms. In order not to have too many tigers in the tribal tribe, tigers are considered gods and worshiped. In tiger forests, a small shrine dedicated to tigers is built and worshiped. Tiger is also the symbol of political parties of Maharashtra.
Significance of Tiger
Tiger is the most important animal in the food chain. Many animals live by hunting. Some animals live by eating grass. But if the number of herbivores increases, it directly affects the nature. The most important function of tigers is to control the animal population.
If the number of animals in the nature becomes uncontrolled, the natural cycle will be disturbed and the forest will decrease. Which is also not beneficial for humans. Having a tiger in the forest is very important for the forest. Because the fear of tiger lives in everyone. Therefore, there is no need to cut wood in the forest and the riot remains safe. Today we see that forests have been destroyed due to logging in many places. The result is an increase in temperature.
Why are Tigers important?
These beautiful, powerful cats inhabit diverse landscapes, from rainforests to grasslands, savannahs to mangrove forests and high-elevation habitats, so they play an important role in many ecosystems that supply nature and people with water, clean air, food and space to roam
As top predators in the food chain, tigers help keep their habitats balanced by preying on other animals, mainly herbivores. Too many herbivores would lead to overgrazing and degradation of the ecosystem.
Tigers also drive economies. Where tigers exist, tourists go. And where tourists go, money can be made by communities with few alternatives for income. Tiger conservation projects help provide alternative livelihoods for rural communities.
To safeguard tigers, we need to protect large swaths of forest across Asia where they live. By protecting these biologically diverse places, we can also preserve many other endangered species that live there. And, forests protected for tigers are known to store more carbon than other habitat types, helping to mitigate climate change.
Conserving tiger landscapes, if done with sensitivity to human needs, has enormous potential to ensure the well-being of Indigenous communities, as tigers and their habitats are intricately tied to their way of life.
Facts About Tigers in English
Tigers are fascinating animals, from their unique stripe patterns to their almighty roar they represent strength and power all while being the most endangered big cat in the world. |
| Tiger Animal Information In English |
Here are our 10 top facts about tigers…
1.Tiger stripes are unique.
Like the human fingerprint, each tiger’s stripe pattern is one of a kind. Individual tigers are identified by their unique stripes and counted using camera trap images to estimate population numbers, this could be in a protected area or on a bigger scale for a country population estimate.
2.Tigers can use their ears to communicate.
A tigress uses the white spots on the back of her ears to communicate with her cubs. They act as a flasher to the cubs, when a tigress senses danger she flattens her ears and the cubs respond by crouching down and hiding.
3.India has over half the world’s population of tigers.
This makes counting them quite a logistical challenge! In 2018 India’s national tiger survey made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest camera trap exercise in the world.
4.One meal a week.
For tigers only one in ten hunts are successful; a large deer can provide a tiger with one week's food.
5.The vocal repertoire of tigers is vast.
They grunt, growl, roar, moan, snarl, chuff, hiss and gasp. It's thought that each vocalisation is used to communicate different things.
6.Tigers have been around for over 2 million years.
While tigers have been around longer than humans, the impacts of human development have caused their population to decline by 97% since the start of the last century.
7.Tigers are endangered.
Because tiger populations have declined so significantly they’re listed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This means they are considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
8.On average two tigers are seized from traffickers every week.
Despite an increase in tiger populations, they remain under threat from the illegal wildlife trade. The number in trade will be much higher than the estimation of approximately 2 tigers seized a week, as this is based on what is seized and reported.
WWF is calling for governments to enforce clear bans on trade in tigers and their parts and products from any source, wild or captive.
9.There are more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild.
There are 3,900 tigers in the wild and both China and the US each have over an estimated 5,000 tigers in captivity.
Globally, there are some legitimate conservation breeding programmes for tigers, and where appropriately managed captive tigers could be used to re-establish wild populations in the future. However, many tiger farms across Asia profit from putting their tigers and their parts and products into trade. Not only does this undermine law enforcement efforts, but it perpetuates and even stimulates demand that also drives the poaching of wild tigers.
10.The TX2 goal is the most ambitious conservation commitment for a single species.
WWF has been working to protect tigers across Asia and for the first time in over 100 years tiger populations were reported to increase in some areas in 2016. 2022 marks the year tiger range countries will assess their progress towards the TX2 goal and to see if wild tiger numbers have been doubled.
But the work is not over. Tigers are still under threat and their populations in Southeast Asia are declining.
Tiger Species OR Type of Tiger
Tigers are one of the most awe-inspiring, courageous wild animals living today. The world’s largest cat species can be found in far east Russia, parts of North Korea, China, India, Southwest Asia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. However, the human population has grown and encroached on tiger habitats, causing their territory to decrease. Pressure from habitat loss, illegal killing and shrinking food supply have pushed all species of tigers on to the endangered list.
Although no tigers are native to the United States, a few of these subspecies of tigers call Wild Animal Safari in Georgia and Missouri their home. Maybe that’s what makes it so special to see them up close. (Note: There are no tigers at the Texas safari park.)
While tigers can be identified by their signature stripes and powerful stature, not all of these big cats are the same. In fact, tiger stripe patterns are all as unique as a human fingerprint, no two are the same. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
1.Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), also called the Indian tiger or the Royal Bengal tiger is native to the Indian subcontinent. Although it once roamed a much larger area, the Bengal is currently found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
The Bengal tiger is on the endangered list. It’s the most well-known breed of tiger and the largest tiger found in the wild. A male Bengal weighs between 397 and 569 pounds. The female is smaller, weighing between 220 and 350 pounds.
2.White Tiger
If you’re lucky enough to see a white tiger, it may be an albino or the result of a genetic mutation. If it’s white with black stripes and has blue eyes, this coloration is caused by a genetic mutation called leucism and is specific to the Bengal tiger. Both parents must have the gene for a white cub to occur. It’s rare, however, only resulting in one out of 10,000 births.
An albino tiger, on the other hand, would be entirely white (no black stripes or very, very faint stripes) and have pink eyes.Few white tigers survive in the wild because their white fur doesn’t provide any camouflage protection for the tiger.
3.Siberian Tiger
The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Manchurian tiger, Korean tiger, Amur tiger or Ussurian tiger, is an endangered species that lives in Northern Asia (China, Russia and Korea), although its territory was once much larger. Even though the Bengal tiger is larger in the wild, the Siberian tiger often grows to be larger than the Bengal in captivity, making it the largest purebred cat in the world.
Crossbreeds such as the liger, a mix between a female tiger and a male lion, get much larger than their parents, however. A full-grown male liger can weigh as much as 1600 pounds! That’s three times the size of a Bengal or Siberian tiger. When Bengals and Siberians are crossbred, they also become larger than their parents.
Although the heaviest Siberian tiger has a record of weighing 660 pounds, it’s typically smaller than the Bengal. Male Siberian tigers generally weigh between 389 and 475 pounds. Females typically weigh between 260 and 303 pounds.
The Siberian has a broad chest and large skull. Its thick fur, which protects it from the harsh winters of Northern Asia, tends to be a less vibrant color of orange than other tiger subspecies.
The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Manchurian tiger, Korean tiger, Amur tiger or Ussurian tiger, is an endangered species that lives in Northern Asia (China, Russia and Korea), although its territory was once much larger. Even though the Bengal tiger is larger in the wild, the Siberian tiger often grows to be larger than the Bengal in captivity, making it the largest purebred cat in the world.
Crossbreeds such as the liger, a mix between a female tiger and a male lion, get much larger than their parents, however. A full-grown male liger can weigh as much as 1600 pounds! That’s three times the size of a Bengal or Siberian tiger. When Bengals and Siberians are crossbred, they also become larger than their parents.
Although the heaviest Siberian tiger has a record of weighing 660 pounds, it’s typically smaller than the Bengal. Male Siberian tigers generally weigh between 389 and 475 pounds. Females typically weigh between 260 and 303 pounds.
The Siberian has a broad chest and large skull. Its thick fur, which protects it from the harsh winters of Northern Asia, tends to be a less vibrant color of orange than other tiger subspecies.
4.Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest tiger subspecies and lives on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Because it lives only on an island, it has been isolated from other tigers. This has resulted in genetics that are different from its “mainland” cousins. The Sumatran is a critically endangered species. Two other tiger subspecies, the Bali tiger and the Javan tiger, once occupied the same area but are now extinct.
The Sumatran tiger weighs approximately half that of the Bengal or Siberian. A male Sumatran tiger weighs between 220 and 310 pounds, whereas a female weighs between 165 and 243 pounds. Since the Sumatran is only slightly shorter than the Bengal or Siberian and weighs significantly less, it has a slight build compared to its bulkier cousins.
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| Tiger Animal Information In English |
The stripes of the Sumatran are very dark and well-defined. They cover the tiger’s entire body, including its forelegs. Not all tigers have stripes on their front legs.
5.Indochinese Tiger
The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), also known as Corbett’s tiger, is named in honor of the famous British hunter Jim Corbett who was often enlisted to hunt down man-eating tigers and leopards early in the 20th century.
The near critically endangered Indochinese tiger is native to Southeast Asia (China, Thailand, Laos, Burma and Vietnam). The illegal trade of tiger parts which are in high demand is the main reason for a quickly dwindling Indochinese tiger population. There are only around 300-400 Indochinese tigers left in the world today. Tiger parts are used in rituals, for meat (internal organs), and to make jewelry, medicines, clothes and wines. Very little of the tiger remains unused.
The Indochinese tiger has narrow, single stripes. The male Indochinese generally weighs between 331 and 430 pounds, whereas the female weighs between 220 and 290 pounds.
6.Malayan Tiger
The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni and occasionally Panthera tigris malayensis) is also known as the Southern Indochinese tiger. Its native range is Southeastern Asia (Burma, Thailand and Malaysia).
The Malayan Tiger is very similar in appearance to the Indochinese tiger except that it’s slightly smaller. It wasn’t even considered a unique breed separate from the Indochinese tiger until the early 2000s. This is why it has two scientific names. The scientific name jacksoni was chosen to honor Peter Jackson, a British journalist, author and photographer who was interested in tiger conservation. Used less popularly was the scientific name malayensis, to signify the geographic location of Malaysia.
The male Malayan tiger weighs between 220 and 308 pounds and the female between 165 and 245 pounds.
Malayan tiger numbers are shockingly low. There are less than 200 breeding adults in the world, and their numbers are still declining! The Malayan tiger has become critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Like the Indochinese tiger, Malayan tiger parts are used in a variety of ways from cultural rituals to traditional medicines.
7.South China Tiger
The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is also known as the Chinese tiger, the Xiamen tiger and the Amoy tiger. It’s native to eastern and central China (the Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fukien and Hunan provinces); however, one has not been spotted in the wild for decades.
Although not as small as the Sumatran, the Indochinese and the Malayan tigers, the South China tiger is one of the smaller tiger subspecies. A male South China tiger weighs between 287 and 386 pounds. The female weighs between 220 and 254 pounds.
The South China tiger is critically endangered and facing possible extinction. Only 30 to 40 are known to exist in the world, and all are living in captivity.
In the 1970s, there were more than 4000 South China tigers living in the wild. Now, none exist. What happened?
When the Chinese government was clearing land for development, they had all tigers killed that were displaced. Habitat destruction and eradication measures led to the decimation of the South China tigers in the wild.
Regretting their actions, the Chinese government now works to protect the South China tiger. Currently, zoos in China and South Africa have breeding programs working hard to increase their numbers.
8.Blue Tiger
There have been sightings of tigers in the mountains of the Fujian province of China that are said to have slate grey or black stripes on a pale grayish-blue body. Just as the Bengal has a genetic mutation that creates white tigers, the South China tiger genetics may create a tiger that has blue fur but the existence of these tigers has not been scientifically proven. Some believe they are just legends! If the blue tiger exists, it’s sometimes referred to as the Maltese tiger.
Extinct Species of Tigers
Unfortunately, you won’t have the opportunity to see three extinct tiger species. These include the Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata), the Bali tiger (Pantera tigris balica) and the Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica). These subspecies of tigers have not been spotted in decades and none are known to be in captivity.
Habitat loss and illegal poaching led to the extinction of these three tiger subspecies and continue to plague all tiger species that remain. If these threats aren’t stopped, the remaining tiger subspecies may also become extinct.
1.Caspian Tiger
The Caspian tiger was a large, powerful tiger that lived around the Caspian Sea. Its colors were muted. So much so, in fact, the Caspian tiger was sometimes referred to as the “gray tiger”. However, surviving pelts have rusty orange fur with quite a bit of brown. Perhaps the gray was a mutation such as that which created the white tiger or the blue tiger.
2.Bali Tiger
The Bali tiger, another native of the Indonesian islands, was once the world’s smallest tiger. The male weighed between 200 and 220 pounds and the female, between143 and 176 pounds. It hasn’t been seen since the 1930s. The only remains of the Bali tiger are bones and skulls which have been preserved in museums.
3.Javan Tiger
The Javan tiger was the last of the three tigers that lived in Indonesia, along with the Bali tiger and the Sumatran tiger. The Javan tiger was slightly larger than the Bali. Although it has been listed as extinct since the 1970s, there are still periodic tiger sightings in the area which could be Javan.
Is tiger endangered?
Tigers are considered as Endangered under the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species. There has been steep decline in the tiger population all across the world. At the beginning of the last century, it is believed that worldwide, there were possibly many thousands of tigers in the wild with about a few thousands of those in India. A WWF-WCS survey found that tigers have lost 93% of their historic range. In the last 10 years, tiger habitat decreased by an alarming 45%. Today, tigers occupy just 7% of their historic range. Though India, Bhutan and Nepal are showing steady rise in their tiger numbers, this species is not doing so well in some south-east Asian countries
The decline in the tiger population in India can be attributed to many factors. The major reason is the growth in human population. Since independence large chunks of prime tiger habitats have been lost forever to agriculture and developmental activities. In India till the middle of the last century, people killed tigers in the name of sport.
Tiger hunting was officially banned only after the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972. Today, increasing biotic disturbances, poaching of prey, urbanization, mining and quarrying; and poaching of tiger for its body parts gravely threaten the future of the tiger. Bones and other body parts of the tigers are used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) and their skins are used for making Chubas (the traditional robe worn by the Tibetans). It is this illegal market for tiger skins and parts in China and Tibet that remains as one of the most serious threat to wild tiger populations in India.
FAQ:
How much does a tiger weigh?
100 to 200 kg
What is the natural lifespan of a tiger?
The natural lifespan of tigers is up to twenty years
Where are the most tigers?
Karnataka has the highest number of tigers in the country, followed by Madhya Pradesh. According to the report, there are 1492 tigers in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
What is the lifestyle of tigers?
Tigers live alone and roam mostly at night. They kill twice a week if there are large animals to eat, but more often if smaller animals are available. They prefer deer, wild boar and wild ox, but also eat all kinds of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.
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