This magnificent cat is the largest of the felines. The Siberian tiger can outgrow the African lion by 150 lbs. (68 kg).
Appearance
Males: up to 110 inch (280 cm) long head and body plus 38 inch (97 cm) tail. 700 pounds (318 kg) in the large Siberian tiger. Females proportionally smaller, weighing up to 350 pounds (159 kg). The tiger has a dark orange coat with dark brown or black vertical stripes.
Distribution/Habitat
Tigers range throughout much of India, Nepal, Vietnam, USSR and other countries in that area. Tigers prefer dense cover for stealthy hunting tactics.
Habits
Tigers are solitary and territorial. Opposite sexes will meet over a period of two or three days to mate.
Reproduction
Females give birth to two or three young after a gestation period of about 105 days. The cubs will stay with their mother until they are two years of age.
Diet
Tigers are opportunistic feeders, they’ll take whatever they can capture, but prefer large prey such as deer, buffalo, pigs and other herbivores. Tigers are known to kill man. Tigers hunt by stealth. They will carefully approach their prey to within 70 feet (21 meters ) and rush the animal at the right moment.
Conservation
There was growing concern in the 1960s about the reduced number of wild tiger populations. In the early 1970s, "Project Tiger" was begun and has helped regain some of the lost population. Three subspecies are extinct.Back to Big Cats Connection home page