Page 152 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

The tiger (Panthera tigris), along with six extant subspecies*, is of the genus Panthera’, and is
one of the largest cat species in the cat family Felidae. It’s found across Asia, in North Korea, China,
India, far eastern Russia and Southeast Asia to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The largest of the
species is believed to be the Siberian tiger, with a height at the shoulders of around 1 metre and a to-
tal length of around 3 to 4 metres. It can weigh from around 250 to 290kg. The average size of most
tigers falls shorter than the Siberian, however,
the Bengal tiger is the closest in size—possibly
surpassing the Siberian in weight—and comes
in a very close second. Females of the species
are always slightly smaller.

*Subspecies (see: Taxonomy)
Bengal tiger
Siberian tiger
South China tiger
Indochinese tiger
Malayan tiger
Sumatran tiger

Tigers are relatively similar in appear-
ance. They all have a powerful muscular body,
with a long striped tail, short sturdy legs with
large paws, the front paws supporting five dig-
its with four digits on the rear. Each digit has a long 10cm retractable claw with one a dewclaw.
Their head is large and round with short rounded ears and a pair of menacing round eyes sunk be-
neath its heavy brow. Their snout is short but it has powerful jaws, lined with sharp teeth and an up-
per and lower set of long flesh piercing canines. Their fur coats have varying under colours of deep
orange, red and white, overlaid with varying black or brown
stripes and dots. Due to their similarity, identifying an indi-
vidual tiger by name can be difficult. However, each of the
six extant tigers live in exclusion in its own area, and as no
other means of positive recognition has ever been demon-
strated, knowing a tiger’s location is the only sure way of
identification.

The tiger’s habitat is around forested areas like conif-
erous and temperate broadleaf and heavy woodlands. It’s a
solitary animal, and both the male and female are highly ter-
ritorial, fiercely defending it against any interlopers, though
tigers rarely fight with one another, using intimidation, by
posturing and loud growling and snarling. They mark their
territory by, spraying urine, clawing or scent rubbing trees,
dropping feces or anal gland secretions. The males territo-
ries will usually overlap several females and the male will
often share a kill with neighbouring females and their cubs, even stray bachelor juveniles, provided
they pose no threat to its dominant position. On friendly meetings with others, tigers will grunt soft-
ly and purr, while, in a bonding gesture, gently rub themselves against one another.

Tigers are carnivores, feeding on large to medium-size mammals such as deer and wild pigs,
they will also occasionally consume vegetation and fruit for dietary fiber. Although tigers can sprint
for short distances at a speed of around 55km/h and are capable of leaping 10 metres into the air,
they prefer to hunt by stalking, hugging the ground and creeping through the heavy overgrown areas
and pouncing on their unsuspecting victims. They are also incredibly patient, and will wait, quite
still, for hours at a known gathering place like a watering hole ready to ambush any animal that ap-
pears. Tigers hunt mostly in the twilight hours or at night; they are great swimmers, but due to their
size and weight are poor tree climbers. They have excellent vision and good hearing and have no
problem locating their prey, either by sound or sight, in dim twilight conditions. Once they have
made a kill, they will drag it to a secluded area, where they will eat it. Large kills may take days to
consume but tiger stay near their kill, leaving it only when there is nothing left to eat.