July 30, 2023, 2:50 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Long, sharp teeth, razor-sharp claws, and of course, the orange-red and black striped fur: Tigers are unmistakable due to their impressive appearance. Every child recognizes these magnificent big cats. Yet, most people know very little about this endangered species. Why do tigers have stripes? How many are still living in the wild? PETBOOK has gathered fascinating information, numbers, and facts about tigers.
Together with the lion, the tiger is probably the most well-known big cat. Even though it is not native to our regions, it exerts an incredible fascination, captivating even the youngest. But aside from the fact that the tiger has stripes and lives in the jungle, few know much about this endangered predator. On July 29, International Tiger Day is celebrated worldwide. This day of action aims to draw attention to the survival struggle of one of the rarest predators on Earth. PETBOOK takes this special date as an opportunity to present exciting facts about the tiger.
Overview
How Much a Tiger Eats Per Day
Tigers are pure carnivores. To satisfy their hunger, they need up to 10 kilograms of meat per day. Depending on their habitat, their prey includes deer, antelopes, wild boars, and water buffalo. They inhabit rainforests, swamp forests, and coniferous forests in many regions of Asia–sometimes even found in the savanna. Their range extends from Russia through India and Nepal to Indonesia and Malaysia.
How Big Tigers Get
Scientists classify tigers into six subspecies, which differ slightly in habitat, size, and coat color: The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, is the largest of them and the largest living cat in the world. It reaches a head-to-body length of up to two meters and a weight of up to 300 kilograms. The South China tiger, once native to large parts of China, is considered extinct in the wild. Conservationists are trying to save this rare subspecies through breeding and reintroduction programs.
Also interesting: Liger – the crossbreed of lion and tiger
How Fast the Big Cat Is
During a hunt, the tiger can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. For comparison, the fastest human in the world, Jamaican Usain Bolt, reached a top speed of nearly 45 kilometers per hour during his sprints. However, like a sprinter, the predator cannot maintain its top speed for long. It is a typical ambush predator, sneaking up close to its prey and overpowering it after a short burst.
Why the Tiger Has Stripes
An intriguing fact about the tiger revolves around its most distinctive feature: its unique coat pattern. Thanks to the longitudinal stripes, the large animals practically disappear among the trees and shrubs of the jungle, making them almost invisible to their prey. Additionally, scientists have discovered that most of the big cat’s prey are colorblind. To deer, wild boars, and antelopes, the predator’s orange coat appears green–making it the perfect camouflage for the forest dweller!
Can Tigers Swim?
Most cats–and big cats–hate getting wet. Tigers are the exception. They even voluntarily go into the cool water. They are excellent swimmers and often enjoy a dip to cool off.
How Long Tigers Live
In the wild, tigers often do not live to be even 10 years old. They face numerous dangers–poachers, in particular, pose a significant threat to these rare big cats. Various body parts of the animals are believed to have healing powers, which is why the critically endangered predator is still hunted illegally–even though the trade in tiger bones has long been banned. In captivity, their life expectancy is up to 25 years.
How Many Tigers Are Left?
Some tiger subspecies are already extinct, while others are endangered. However, conservation efforts in recent years are slowly showing results, and in 2022 there was good news: In Nepal, the number of wild tigers increased to 335–up from 121 in 2009. India, Bhutan, and Russia have also recently reported significant increases in tiger populations.
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Sources
- Wwf.de, “Tiger in the Species Lexicon” (accessed July 27, 2023)
- Abenteuer-regenwald.de, “The Tiger – the Largest Predator in the World” (accessed July 27, 2023)
- Wwf.de, “Hope for World Tiger Day: Nepal Successfully Doubles Its Wild Tiger Population” (accessed July 27, 2023)