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If you are not sure of the difference between a Jaguar and a Leopard, this will definitely not be the case with a Tiger. Its size, characteristic dark stripes and distinctive fangs will leave you with no doubt. Together with Polar Bears and Brown Bears, Tigers belong to the top three largest terrestrial predators. Nevertheless, there are less than 3 900 of them left in the wild.
Tigers are the largest felines, but the size differences between individual populations are noticeable. The largest are Siberian Tigers and Indian Tigers. They reach a body length of over 6 ft, with an additional 3 ft of tail length. The females are a little smaller; but with a length of up to 8.5 ft (including the tail), they are still dreaded predators.
On the other side of the size spectrum is the Sumatran Tiger. It reaches a total length (including the tail) of about 8 ft in males and 7 ft in females.
The same goes for weight. The male Siberian Tiger weighs up to 660 lb., while the Sumatran Tiger weighs only 220 - 300 lb.
Tigers live up to 10 years in the wild, and on average 20 to 25 years in captivity.
Population Formerly, experts distinguished 9 subspecies of Tiger. However, this changed in 2017, when the IUCN revised the taxonomy of felines and recognized only 2 subspecies – the Indian or Continental* (Panthera tigris tigris) *and the Sunda Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica), formerly found on the Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Today all remaining Sunda Tigers are found only in Sumatra. The Tigers in Java and Bali are extinct. The total number of all Tigers in the wild is less than 3 900 individuals.
Continental Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) This subspecies occurs throughout Asia, from the Russian Far East through the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans to the Lower Mekong. It includes populations of:
Sunda Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) The last remnants of this subspecies can be seen only in Sumatra. In other places, such as Java and Bali, this Tiger has been exterminated.
Biotop Tigers inhabit a relatively wide range of different habitats, from tropical rainforests to savannas, from swamps, as well as broadleaf and mixed temperate forests, to coniferous northern Taiga forests. The Tiger usually does not ascend to altitudes above 6 500 ft, but in Kazakhstan, Tigers were hunted at an altitude of 8 000 ft above sea level, and in the Himalayas the presence of Tigers at an altitude of 13 000 ft above sea level has been proven.
Food The Tiger's main food source is large mammals, which it tracks and kills after a short sprint. These mammals are mainly wild pigs and deer. A smaller part of the diet consists of small mammals, such as hares or rabbits, as well as birds and reptiles, including large crocodiles. The Tiger is able to kill even large animals such as the Gaur, the largest living ox. In any case, even though the Tiger is a perfect hunter, only 1 in 10 hunts is successful.
Did you know… the white form of the Indian Tiger is merely a recessively inherited color deviation and is not Albinism. While the irises of true Albinos are red, White Tigers have blue irises.
Fun facts about Tigers:
Tigers have lost an estimated 95 % of their natural territory, which was destroyed, degraded and fragmented by human activity. Which areas can be addressed to help Tigers?
Poaching and the Black Market Poaching is an immediate threat to wild Tigers. Every part of the Tiger – from the beard to the tail – has been found on illegal markets with products from the wilderness. Tiger bones and other body parts are used for modern health supplements and in witchcraft medicines, and their skins are sought after as status symbols in some Asian cultures.
Captive Breeding of Tigers and Tiger "farms" It is estimated that more than 8 000 Tigers are kept in more than 200 centers in East and Southeast Asia, about three-quarters of which are in China. It is also estimated that there are approximately 5 000 Tigers in the United States.
Loss of Natural Environment and Genetic Diversity Tigers need a large habitat for their survival because they are very territorial. Fewer Tigers can survive in small, scattered and secluded habitats, but this leads to a higher risk of inbreeding and makes Tigers more vulnerable to poaching.
Conflict with Locals Humans and Tigers are increasingly competing for space. As fewer forests exist, fewer natural habitats exist where Tigers can be at home and where their natural prey can live. Tigers then have to hunt outside protected areas, and go after easily available prey – such as cattle, on which the locals depend. These raids usually end in the death of the Tiger, or result in it being captured and becoming part of the black market in wild animals.
Impacts of Climate Change One of the largest uniquely adapted Tiger populations is found in the Sundarbans – a large mangrove area on the coast of the Indian Ocean. It is also the only coastal habitat for Mangrove Tigers in the world. These mangrove forests contain a variety of species, including Tigers. The forests protect coastal areas from storm and wind damage. However, rising sea levels caused by climate change threaten to wipe out these forests and the last remaining habitats of this Tiger population. According to a WWF study, sea levels could rise by about 1 foot by 2070, destroying almost the entire Tiger habitat in the Sundarbans.
To save Tigers, we need to secure forest and grassland habitats and protect them from poachers and other dangers. How can we create such a safe environment?
Combat Poaching and Illegal Trade We need to offer greater material and technological support to wildlife rangers, as well as increasing pressure on governments and organizations for the purpose of stricter law enforcement. There must be zero tolerance of poachers as well as traffickers.
Protection of Tiger Habitats It is necessary to support and build protected nature reserves. By building these safe places, we will provide a quieter and safer living space not only for Tigers, but also for other animals that serve as natural food for Tigers.
Reducing Conflicts between Man and Tigers In collaboration with local communities, it is necessary to address the protection of their property, i.e. mainly cattle that become victims of hungry Tigers. Also, we must introduce new and innovative solutions to save the natural environment of Tigers and to reduce the effects of climate change.
Monitoring and Scientific Research Monitoring Tigers and their prey is essential to achieve their protection. Using camera traps, surveillance technologies and DNA collected from feces, the development of Tiger populations is analyzed to adapt conservation strategies based on strong scientific and field experience.
Everyone can get involved:
Don't buy Tiger products. Behind every such product is the needless death of a Tiger.
Support Tiger protection legislation, such as the Big Cat Public Safety Act.
Do not use products containing palm oil. Many forests, and therefore places where Tigers had their homes, have fallen victim to the cultivation of palm oil.
Do not buy tropical hardwood products, such as red sandalwood or teak. Increasing demand reduces the forests that are the natural home of Tigers.