Tiger Facts
An Eclectic Collection of Tiger Facts
The following is a collection of tiger facts, some well known, others not so much, plus a few rarely mentioned facts. The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest of the four species of big cat. Their range of habitat is from Siberia to the tropical Indian subcontinent, plus parts of Indonesia and Malaya. Their range was once significantly greater, extending well into western Asia. Tigers generally are solitary animals. They are also territorial, typically living in an area up to 40 square miles in size, depending upon the availability of prey.
There are normally 3 of 4 cubs in a litter. The cubs are raised by their mother, with the father taking no apparent interest in them. Unlike some other animals, male tigers will not often kill cubs, though it does happen from time to time. Male tigers have been observed sharing kill with females and cubs, something one would never see in the world of lions. Still, the mortally rate for tiger cubs is quite high, with only about half attaining an age of two years.
Tigers primarily feed on larger animals. Because of their great strength, they are able to pull much larger animals down. Tigers are opportunistic feeders as well, feeding upon smaller animals which happen to come within their reach, or domestic animals such as cattle or dogs. They've also been known to eat fish, and sometimes vegetation.
With few if any natural enemies, tigers are threatened primarily by humans. The reduction in tiger population is largely due to the loss and fragmentation of their natural habitat, and to hunting. Poaching would be a better term, as all species are now protected.
Although humans are not normally considered a normal part of a tiger's diet, conflicts arising from human encroachment into the tiger's habitat occasionally results in a human being killed by a tiger. The so-called "man-eaters" are often older or injured tigers, who are no longer able to capture and kill larger and stronger game.
In spite of their reputation for ferocity, tigers have a certain charismatic appeal. Much of this is due to their attributes of power, grace, and beauty. Their attractive pattern of stripes is unique to each animal, and are one means of recognizing individuals. It is these patterns of stripes which seemingly have much to do with our being drawn towards the animal.
Most will agree that tigers are very photogenic, and always one of the more popular attractions in the zoo. Tigers are a popular subject in books and in films, and due to their power and ferocity, are natural candidates as mascots for athletic teams, as an adjective sometimes used to describe aggressive or highly competitive people, or as a nickname for certain elite military units.
No collection of tiger facts would be complete without mention of the different subspecies. There are six subspecies of tiger in existence in the world today. Three other known species are now extinct. The Bengal tiger, or the Royal Bengal tiger, is likely the most well known of the subspecies, being the subject of numerous books and adventure films. It is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. Under 2,000 Bengal tigers are thought to exist today.
Four additional subspecies of tiger are found in southern China and southeast Asia. These are the Indochinese tiger, the Malayan tiger, the Sumatran tiger and the South China tiger. The latter two subspecies falls into the critical endangered category, with the South China tiger listed as one of the 10 most endangered species in the world. Unfortunately, the South China tiger is probably headed for extinction.
The sixth subspecies, and the largest of the tigers, is the Siberian tiger, found in far eastern Siberia and Manchuria. The Siberian tiger can measure up to 8 1/3 feet in length, weights up to 600 pounds, and occasionally more. Less than 1,000 Siberian tigers are believed to be alive today. The animal is protected, but poaching remains a threat to their existence. The Siberian tiger is a bit lighter colored than the other subspecies, and is noted for a thick coat and rather thick fur collar. Not a bad idea when you call Siberia home.
Any collection of tiger facts should include several of the more famous individuals in the tiger kingdom. Who are some of these? One who's been around for awhile is Tigger, the joyful character in Winnie The Pooh. Just as joyful, with a philosophical streak and brimming with personality, is Hobbes, from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. A little more one dimensional, but often seen on TV and at the breakfast table is Tony The Tiger, who promotes Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. And, don't forget to put a tiger in your tank.