Tigers (scientific name: Panthera tigris) are solitary animals; they primarily live alone. Tiger cubs will stay with their mothers until they are about 2 years old, then they will go off and find their own territories. They are primarily nocturnal hunters meaning they hunt at night, when they have a better chance of sneaking up on their prey. Tigers are excellent swimmers and some have been known to spend most of their day in the water. They are also very skilled at hunting from the water.
- Orange, reddish orange, or pale orange coats that are patterned with black stripes
- Each tiger’s stripes are unique
- White bellies and white around their muzzles (noses and mouths)
- White spots on the backs of their black ears – a trait that all spotted wild cats have, which helps them communicate with their young
WHERE WE LIVETigers live in a variety of habitats, including swampy mangroves, dense forests, rocky country, and woodlands. They prefer having cover to hide behind as they ambush their prey.
8 – 12 feet long
14 feet long
OBLIGATE CARNIVORE
- Deer
- Wild Boar
- Water Buffalo
- Antelope
- Sloth Bears
- Leopards
- Domestic Cattle
Tigers who are sick, old, or injured have been known to kill humans.
- Habitat Loss
Tigers are losing a lot of their habitat to farmers and palm oil plantations each year. - Poaching
Many people view dead tigers as extremely valuable, using every part of their bodies in some way. - Considered: Endangered
In the last 100 years, the population of wild tigers has dropped from 100,000 to 3,800
