The tiger is a predatory mammal belonging to the cat family. The tiger is a member of the panther genus, which, in turn, belongs to the subfamily of big cats.

The tiger is one of the largest land animals

In nature, the animal is divided into nine subspecies. Currently, only six exist, the rest were exterminated or became extinct.

Tiger subspecies:

1. Amur - the main habitat is the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories of Russia, also a small amount is located in the northeast of China and the north of Korea;
2. Bengal – habitat India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan;
3. Indochinese - habitat in southern China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia;
4. Malay - south of the Malacca Peninsula;
5. Sumatran – habitat of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia);
6. Chinese - at present, individuals of this subspecies have practically disappeared, a small number are kept in Chinese reserves;

And extinct subspecies:

1. Bali tiger– lived only on the territory of the island of Bali, the last individual was killed by hunters in 1937;
2. Javan tiger– lived on the island of Java, the last representative of the subspecies was killed in 1979;
3. Transcaucasian tiger– lived in Iran, Armenia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Turkmenistan. The last time a tiger of this subspecies was seen was in 1970.

Currently, the most numerous are Bengal tigers, which make up approximately 40% of the total number of animals of this species.

The Bengal tiger is typically red in color with black stripes. But there are also individuals with white fur, which also has dark spots. In the natural environment, such individuals rarely survive, since their light color makes it difficult for them to hunt. White tigers easily adapt to captivity and reproduce well.

There is an opinion among people that a tiger with white fur is an albino, but in reality this is not the case. White tigers are a type of Bengal tiger that first appeared in India.

History of the origin of the white tiger

All white tigers currently existing in captivity have one common ancestor - a male Bengal tiger named Mohan. It all started in May 1951, when during a tiger hunt with the participation of the Maharajah of Reva, a tiger’s lair was discovered, in which there were four teenage tiger cubs. Three red tiger cubs were killed, and the fourth, distinguished by its unusual white color and which attracted the attention of the ruler, was left and transported to the palace of the Maharaja. The tiger lived here for 12 years.

The Maharajah of Rewa was very proud that only he had such a unique beast. And he wanted to have more of them. For this purpose, Mohana was brought an ordinary red tigress. However, no matter how many offspring there were after this, not a single tiger cub was white. Until one day a tigress from previous copulations was brought as a bride to a white tiger. As a result of inbreeding (relationship between related individuals), the tigress in 1958 gave birth to an offspring of four kittens, one of which was white.

Since then, the number of white tigers has increased dramatically. Now there was not enough space for all these individuals in the palace, and the ruler of Reva decided to sell the unique animals. White tigers at that time were considered the natural heritage of the country, but several specimens were nevertheless exported outside the country.

So, in 1960, one of the descendants of the white tiger Mohan came to the USA, to the National Park in Washington. A little later they appeared at the Bristol Zoo in the UK. And then they began to spread throughout the entire globe.

Currently, the number of white tigers is unknown, as they are kept not only in zoos and circuses, but also in private menageries, where it is difficult to monitor their numbers. The largest number of white tigers is in their country of origin - India.

Despite the fact that white tigers are born only between related individuals, and this, as a rule, leads to a weakening of the viability of the offspring, this has not yet been observed among white tigers. The birth rate of white tigers is approximately one per 10,000 red-colored individuals.

White Tiger

Physiology of the white tiger

The white tiger differs from the red tiger in its smaller size. Individuals of this species have brown-red, pink or blue eyes. The most common animals are those with blue eyes.

The tiger has a massive body, elongated in length, with developed muscles and fairly high flexibility, inherent in all animals of the cat family. The front part of the body is more developed than the back, and the animal is higher in the shoulders than in the sacrum. The tiger has four toes on its hind paws and five on its front paws. All of them have retractable claws.

The tiger's round-shaped head is distinguished by a protruding facial part and a rather convex forehead. The animal’s skull is quite massive, large, with widely spaced cheekbones. Small ears have a rounded shape. Vibrissae up to 16.5 cm long and up to 1.5 mm thick are arranged in 4-5 rows and are white, turning brown at the base.

An adult tiger should have 30 teeth, of which 2 canines, reaching a length of up to 8 cm. Such powerful teeth help the predator kill prey. In addition, on the sides of the animal’s tongue there are special tubercles covered with keratinized epithelium, with the help of which the tiger separates the meat from the bones of the prey. These tubercles also help the animal when washing itself.

The white tiger has short, rather dense and low hair. And if an ordinary tiger has various shades of red, then a white tiger has shades from cream to white. The entire surface of the body is covered with dark stripes, which can range from light gray (in some individuals) to completely black. Along the body and neck the stripes are located in a transverse vertical position. The edges of the strip are pointed, or they bifurcate and then join again. In the back, the tiger has more stripes.

Territorial behavior

Tigers are territorial animals, that is, adults lead a solitary lifestyle in their own territory. Invasion into it is subject to fierce resistance from the tiger owner. Animals mark their territory, usually leaving marks on vertical objects.

The size of the territory occupied by a tiger depends on several factors, in particular on the habitat, the density of population of other individuals, the presence of females and prey. On average, 20 square meters is enough for a tigress. km, and for males – 60-100 sq. km. At the same time, in the habitat of the male, there may be separate habitat areas for females.

During the day, tigers constantly move around their territory, periodically updating marks along its borders. On average, a tiger can travel from 9.6 to 41 km per day, and females travel from 7 to 22 km per day.

Although tigresses, like males, have a personal territory, but when invading or crossing boundaries with other females is perceived as normal, tigresses are able to coexist peacefully with each other. While males not only do not tolerate other males living on their territory, but also are aggressive towards individuals who accidentally cross the border of someone else’s territory. However, male tigers can coexist peacefully with females, and in some situations even share prey with them.

Food and hunting

In the natural environment, the main food of tigers are ungulates. For a white tiger, this could be deer, wild boar, Indian sambar, etc. Sometimes it happens that a tiger can eat food that is unusual for it in the form of monkeys, hares, pheasants, and in some cases it can even be fish. On average, for adequate nutrition, a tiger needs approximately 50-70 ungulates per year.

At one time, a tiger eats 30-40 kg of meat. At the same time, the animal can go without food for a considerable time. This is due to the presence of subcutaneous fatty tissue, which can reach 5 cm in some individuals.

The tiger hunts animals alone. At the same time, he uses one of two hunting techniques inherent to him - sneaking up on prey or waiting for it in ambush. The first method is most often used by predators in winter, while the second is more common in summer. Having tracked the prey, the tiger approaches it from the leeward side so that the wind does not carry the tiger's scent to the animal. The predator moves with careful short steps, and often crouches to the ground. When closest to the prey, the tiger makes several large jumps, thereby reaching the target animal.

In the second method - waiting - the tiger takes cover from the prey, lying in the wind, and when it approaches, it makes a sharp jerk over a short distance.

If the animal being hunted manages to move away from the tiger for 100-150 meters, then the predator stops hunting. When chasing, a tiger can reach a speed that is high for such a large animal - up to 60 km/h.

When hunting, a tiger can make a jump up to 5 meters high and up to 10 meters long. The tiger can carry caught and killed prey by gripping it with its teeth or throwing it on its back. At the same time, it can carry an animal weighing up to 100 kg. Holding a killed animal weighing 50 kg in its teeth, the predator can overcome an obstacle up to 2 meters high. The tiger moves very large prey by dragging it along the ground. Moreover, the prey can weigh 6-7 times more than the tiger’s weight.

Reproduction

Mating of tigers most often occurs in December-January. In this case, only one male follows the female. If a rival appears, a fight occurs between the males for the right to mate with the female.

A female tiger is capable of fertilization only a few days a year. If at this time the female is not fertilized, then estrus repeats after a short time.

Most often, a tigress gives birth to its first offspring at the age of 3-4 years, and a female can give birth once every 2-3 years. Gestation of the cubs lasts approximately 97-112 days.

Tiger cubs are born in March-April. In one litter there are most often 2-4 tiger cubs, offspring with one tiger cub are less common, and even less often - 5-6 cubs. The weight of born tiger cubs is 1.3-1.5 kg. The cubs are born blind, but after 6-8 days they begin to see.

For the first six weeks, the cubs feed only on the milk of the tigress. Tiger cubs grow only near their mother; tigresses do not allow male tigers near their offspring, since the male can kill the cubs that are born.

After 8 weeks, the cubs become capable of following their mother and leaving the den. The new generation becomes capable of independent life only at the age of about 18 months, but, as a rule, they continue to remain with their mother until they reach 2-3 years, in some cases - up to 5 years.

After young tigers begin to live on their own, females remain in close proximity to matter. Males, in contrast, go longer distances in search of their own unoccupied territory.

Over the course of their entire lives, females give birth to about 10-20 tiger cubs, and half of them die at a much younger age. On average, the life expectancy of a tiger is 26 years.

However, it is worth considering that white tigers are very rarely found in natural conditions.

They predominate more in captivity, where mating occurs between certain representatives of this species. At the same time, if previously, in order to give birth to a white tiger, it was necessary to cross related tigers with each other, now white tigers have become quite common, thanks to which it is possible to obtain white offspring from two white tigers.

White tigers are very popular in zoos. However, zoologists have differing opinions about white tigers. Some believe that any color variation is worthy of attention, while others argue that white tigers are genetic freaks. For the first time, the director of the zoological association, William Conway, spoke against this species of animal, calling white tigers freaks and calling for their exclusion from all zoos.

Nevertheless, the popularity of the white tiger has not waned, and its further spread among various zoos around the world continues.

(lat. Panthera tigris) is a mammal and the largest predator of the cat family. The body of this animal is elongated, flexible and muscular, 1.8 - 3.1 m long and weighing about 270 kg.

The head is round in shape, the ears are small, and the tail is long (about 90 cm). The coat color is red with black transverse stripes.

Thanks to this unusual color, the animal can camouflage itself well in thickets. In addition, the color of the skin depends on the specific geographical location of the “cat,” which makes it possible to distinguish several subspecies of this animal.

The most famous species are the Amur, Bengal, and Indochinese tigers. These animals can be found only in Asia (in Southeast Asia, the Middle and Far East, in the Primorsky Territory of Russia), they live in a variety of areas (both in forests and in the mountains).

They feed on ungulates, and also do not disdain crocodiles, turtles, crabs, fish and insects. The mating season usually occurs in the winter season, the duration of pregnancy varies between 95 and 112 days.

Usually from two to four tiger cubs are born, in rare cases - one. Young tigers live with their mother for 2-5 years, and reach sexual maturity: females at 3-4 years, males at 4-5 years. Life expectancy is a maximum of 25-26 years.

Tigers always hunt in packs.

Each tiger can be distinguished from another by the paw prints it leaves.

In reality, the track of the same tiger will always look different on different soils, so it is not easy to tell which tiger visited a given place.

Tigers are afraid of water.

Unlike other animals of the cat family, tigers and jaguars are not the least bit afraid of watery places and swim there with great pleasure. When the weather is particularly hot, these animals literally do not get out of the water; they can lie there for hours, escaping the scorching sun.

Tigers cannot climb trees.

They also belong to the cat family, which means, like an ordinary domestic cat, they can climb a tree. But it’s not a particularly favorite activity for them, and a tiger can climb a tree only if a tasty morsel is “settled” there or if there is a stressful situation. Therefore, when meeting a tiger, there is no point in hiding from the beast in a tree.

Tigers love to feast on humans.

Tigers hate dogs.

What is true is true. There are several points of view that explain this hatred. One view is that there has been a long-standing feud between dogs and cats. Another is inclined to think that dog meat is very healthy for a tiger and is extremely tasty. In any case, no matter what the dog does and no matter where it is, having noticed it, the tiger strives to “crush” the animal.

These animals live only in Africa.

Most researchers believe that all currently known varieties of this predatory cat originated from South Chinese tigers. Gradually they settled Iran and Turkey, but this cannot be said about Africa. Of course, today there are more than enough of them there, but this does not mean that the tigers themselves moved there and took a fancy to these places; most likely, people helped them in this.

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Many people, when they see this amazing animal, have a question: “What is the largest tiger in the world?”

The largest species of tigers

This animal has extremely terrifying dimensions, which can vary depending on its subspecies. The question of which tiger is the largest in the world cannot be answered unequivocally. After all, there are several varieties, the dimensions of which leave a strong impression.

Today it is believed that the largest tigers in the world belong to two subspecies. True, their rivals in size have recently appeared. These are the so-called ligers, which occurred in the process of crossing the two largest representatives of cats.

Representatives of this subspecies can be found in Pakistan, Northern and Central India, Eastern Iran, Bangladesh, Manyam, Bhutan, Nepal and in the vicinity adjacent to the mouths of the Sutlij, Ravi, Indus. It is not only the largest tiger in the world, but also the most numerous of the living subspecies. There are a little less than 2.5 thousand individuals.

The average weight of a male Bengal tiger varies depending on its habitat. The highest results in the modern world are observed in Nepal. On average, a male pulls 235 kg there. But it was there that the “record holder” was spotted - the largest tiger in the world, whose weight reached 320 kg.

Amur tiger

This subspecies has many other names: Ussuri, Far Eastern, Manchurian or Siberian. As already mentioned, it is believed to be the largest tiger in the world.

The dimensions of this representative of the cat family are very impressive. For example, if he stands on his hind legs, then his height will be up to 3.5-4 m! The weight of such individuals may vary. So, the stable weight is 250 kg. But among them there are outstanding individuals.

The Siberian tiger is somewhat different in appearance from its counterparts living in warm countries. It has a less bright red color, and its fur is very thick. In addition, there is a layer of fat on its belly, which allows it to feel comfortable in frosty winters.

A Far Eastern tiger living in captivity can live more than 25 years. When free, his age rarely exceeds 15.

Concern for the conservation of an endangered subspecies

There are very few Amur tigers left in the wild. There are several reasons for this. Among them:

• the active destruction of animals by people who hunt them for their fur;
• the extinction of Amur tigers from plague, which affects carnivores;
• deforestation of the taiga, where tigers can live freely and breed;
• a decrease in the number of ungulates, which are the main food product of these predators;
• identical DNA in surviving individuals, which leads to the appearance of weak and often non-viable offspring.

Today this situation has been brought under control. Now nature reserves and zoos are actively breeding these graceful animals, and their name has been included in the Red Book of Russia. At last count, there are no more than 500 Amur tigers left.

Liger

As noted earlier, in nature there are hybrids obtained by crossing individuals of different species. This measure was taken by zoo owners in order to impress visitors, increasing their number and profits. But these attempts were not always crowned with success, and the success rate was only 1-2. Crossing lions with tigresses has led to the emergence of quite interesting and large hybrids.

The male liger is much larger than even the Bengal and Amur tigers. Its weight can reach 400 kg even when the individual is not obese at all. The height of a male standing on his hind legs is about 4 m.

In appearance, ligers resemble those that became extinct about 10 thousand years ago. They owe such large dimensions to the DNA of their ancestors, because lions and tigresses, when mating, activate the gene that is responsible for growth.

The most important feature of lion-tigress hybrids is that their females have the ability to bear children. So, there are two more species - liligers and taligers. The first is produced by crossing a female liger and a male lion, and the second by mating a female liger and a male tiger.

The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums strongly discourages the breeding of such unusual large species. After all, today we need to concentrate on conserving endangered species of tigers, and not try our best to break the record in the category “The largest tiger in the world.”

The tiger is the largest representative of the cat family. It ranks third in the ranking of the largest land predators after the polar bear and brown bear. The tiger lives mainly in dense forested areas. Tigers live in the taiga and tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia.

Tiger species and habitat

There are several types of tigers. The largest of them lives in Eastern Siberia, and the smallest - on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali /

The largest tiger is the Amur tiger, weighing up to 420 pounds

• Bengal tiger (Panthera Tigris) - India, Nepal, Bangladesh. Population size: 2000 individuals.
• Chinese tiger (Panthera t. amoyensis) - China. Population size: only about 60 individuals in captivity.
• Indochinese tiger (Panthera t. corbetti) - Cambodia, Laos, Mjanma, Thailand, Vietnam. Population size: 400 - 1000 individuals.
• Malayan tiger (Panthera t. jacksoni) - Malay Peninsula. Population size: 600 - 800 individuals.
• Sumatran tiger (Panthera t. sumatrae) - Sumatra. Population size: 440 - 680 individuals.
• (Panthera t. Altaica) - Eastern Siberia. Population size: 450 - 500 individuals.

Tigers hunt a variety of animals, but the main diet of these predators is deer and wild boars. In Eastern Siberia, tigers even attack bears, although they do not always emerge victorious from the fight.

How tigers hunt

The tiger is a solitary hunter and, unlike lions, rarely hunts in a pack. Having noticed the victim, he crouches to the ground and slowly, silently creeps up. When the victim is at a distance of about 20 m, he suddenly rushes at him, grabs him by the neck and tries to knock him over with his weight. If a tiger has only wounded its prey, it can chase it for about 200 m. But such chases rarely end in success for it.

The tiger is a large, beautiful, but extremely dangerous cat.

Tigers are an endangered species

Unfortunately, tigers are endangered. These beautiful animals once lived throughout Asia, but the reduction of their natural habitat, deforestation and illegal hunting have caused the population to plummet. Some Asian countries have special programs to protect tigers, which may be able to prevent the complete destruction of the largest cats in the world.

Do you know that

• The largest tiger, the Amur tiger, that the researchers came across weighed 432 kg.
• The tiger has well-developed all five senses, especially vision. Thanks to this, he sees in the dark five times better than a human.

• Despite the high skill of the hunter, on average only every tenth tiger attack is successful.
• The characteristic color of the tiger allows it to camouflage perfectly. The predator's striped fur makes the contours of its body unclear, which allows it to sneak up on its chosen prey unnoticed.
• A tiger can jump to a height of 5 meters. This opportunity is used when the victim is in a tree.
• A tiger can eat up to 50 kg of meat at one time.
• A tiger can run at a speed of 60 km/h.
• The tiger, like the jaguar, is a good swimmer.

Tiger Dimensions:

• Length: 1.7 - 3.3 m.
• Height at withers: 0.8 - 1.2 m.
• Body weight: 90 - 423 kg (males), 65 - 160 kg (females).
• Lifespan: 10-15 years in the wild, 16-20 years in captivity.

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Total allocated nine species of tigers, of which only six remain alive, and three are considered extinct.

Existing tiger species

Amur or Siberian tigers

photo: Joeke Pieters

Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) can reach almost 3.3 meters in length. The weight of males is up to 300 kg, and they are larger than females. This subspecies of tiger has a skull that is much larger than other species. The color of the Amur tiger is paler in winter, and with the advent of the warm season it becomes brighter and more saturated. The fur is thicker and coarser than that of other tiger species due to the low temperature of the range where it lives. Amur tigers are capable of knocking down animals that weigh several times more than them. They tend to hunt elk and wild boar.

Bengal tigers

Bengal tiger (lat. Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) can be seen in India. It is the most numerous of all tiger species with over 2,500 individuals in the wild. This tiger species can weigh around 230 kg for an adult male and 140 kg for a female. Bengal tigers also have very long tails and heads that are larger than other species. They are excellent hunters and feed on a wide range of prey, including deer, antelope, pigs and buffalo. Also, during times of shortage of basic food, they hunt monkeys, birds and other smaller prey.

Indochinese tigers

A species of tiger that is known as the Indochinese tiger (lat. Panthera tigris corbetti), found in several Asian countries. The species is darker in color and smaller in size than Bengal tigers, but they are capable of reaching a maximum weight of 200 kg for males and 150 kg for females. Indochinese tigers prefer to live in forested areas. There are not many such tigers anymore. The government estimates the species' population to be only 350 individuals. Indochinese tigers are suffering from food shortages as wild pig and deer numbers are also declining.

Malayan tigers

Malayan tiger (lat. Panthera tigris jacksoni) can only be found in the south of the Malay Peninsula. This tiger was only recognized as a separate species in 2004. It is the smallest species on the mainland and the second smallest tiger species. Males weigh on average 120 kg, and females about 100 kg. Note that the Malayan tiger has cultural significance as it is on the country's coat of arms and is also the logo of Maybank, a Malaysian bank.

Sumatran tigers

photo: Hagen Schneider

Sumatran tigers (lat. Panthera tigris sumatrae) a very rare species that lives only on the island of Sumatra. Habitat destruction is still considered the main threat to the Sumatran tiger. The Sumatran tiger's stripes are closer together than other tigers. This allows him to be invisible in tall grass. One of the Sumatran tiger's best tactics is to stalk its prey in the water. It is an extremely fast swimmer, so it is easily able to intercept larger prey in the water that it would not be able to handle on land.

Chinese tigers

Chinese tigers (lat. Panthera tigris amoyensis) most at risk of extinction. This tiger species is often listed among the ten most endangered species in the world. In the early 1950s, the Chinese tiger population was estimated to number 4,000. And already in 1996, only 30-80 of these unique animals remained.

Extinct Tiger Species

Bali tigers

Some species of tigers are extinct, including Balinese tiger species (lat. Panthera tigris balica). As the name suggests, the range of this tiger species was limited to the island of Bali, Indonesia. Before its extinction, the Bali tiger was the smallest tiger species. This species is still considered important in Balinese Hinduism.

Caspian tigers

Caspian tiger (lat. Panthera tigris virgata), which is also known as Transcaucasian tiger Previously found in sparse forests. It was discovered in the south and west of the Caspian Sea. At least, it was still found in the wild until the early 1970s. The closest living species to the Caspian tiger is the Amur tiger.

Javan tigers

He lived on the island of Java, in honor of which he received his name - Javan tiger (lat. Panthera tigris sondaica). This extinct tiger species was present until the mid-1970s. The weight of males is from 100 to 140 kg, and females - from 75 to 115 kg. Unfortunately, the last Javan tiger was seen after 1979, in the area of ​​Mount Betri.

Tiger hybrids

We talked about different types of tigers, as well as those that have become extinct. However, there are some other species that can also be considered part of the tiger family, such as the Liger and Tigon hybrids.

Liger

Liger - hybrid, which is the result of mating between a male lion and a tigress. The lion contributes a gene that promotes growth, because of this, ligers can grow much larger than their parents and have a length of 3-3.5 m, and a weight of 360 kg to 450 kg or even more. They do, however, reflect the appearance and behavior of both parents. As a result, the liger has spots and stripes imprinted on its sandy fur. Male ligers have a 50% chance of growing a mane, just not as luxurious as a lion's. While the resulting liger is certainly beautiful and interesting to study, the males of this hybrid are sterile, even when their females are usually fertile.

Tigon

Tigon, which is the result of breeding between a male tiger and a lioness, is a less common hybrid. Naturally, tiger hybrids cannot; they are found in the wild and can only be seen in zoos or circuses. Tigons are usually no larger than average in size.

Types of tigers with unique colors

White tigers

Very attractive appearance white tiger makes him a popular and desirable zoo resident or even an exotic pet, but albino tigers are rare in the wild. White tigers were first bred at the beginning of the 19th century. They can appear in tiger parents who carry a rare gene that occurs only once every 10,000 births.

Golden Tigers

Another recessive gene may result in an interesting "golden" shade. The color is sometimes called "golden tabby". actually have golden fur, with pale orange stripes. Their fur is thicker than other tigers. At last count, there are about 30 golden tigers.

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At the beginning of the twentieth century, about 100,000 tigers lived on Earth, most of which lived in India (40,000 individuals). In the 21st century, the number and habitat of animals has decreased significantly. According to rough estimates, there are no more than 4,000 tigers left in the wild.

Previously, these striped animals lived in many countries: India, China, eastern Russia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan. In addition to the mainland, tigers inhabited the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Now it is rare to see a tiger even in the once most common places.

The largest population of Bengal tigers lives in the territories of the following states: Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan. The representative of the panther genus prefers to settle in dry savannas, rain and mangrove forests. Its population is about 2,000 individuals.

Indochinese tiger inhabits the territories of China, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. One of the largest populations lives in Malaysia. It was possible to preserve the animal population in this country with the help of harsh laws punishing poaching.

Another representative of the species Amur tiger lives in Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai of Russia. A small number of Amur tigers inhabit the territory of North Korea and northeastern China. This is the largest subspecies of tigers of all living ones; already at the age of six months its weight and size exceed the parameters of an adult leopard.

Chinese tigers- a species that is on the verge of extinction. There are no animals left in the wild. All tigers of this species live in captivity in China. The government is doing everything possible to return tigers to the wild.

In addition to the continents, tigers also live on the Malacca Peninsula and the island of Sumatra. These tigers differ from their mainland relatives in their size. Malayan and Sumatran tigers weigh significantly less than their relatives. A male Malayan tiger weighs up to 120 kg, while a Sumatran tiger weighs 100-130 kg.

White and golden tigers are also found in nature. This animal color is the result of a mutation. As a rule, one such individual appears for every 10,000 individuals with a normal color. Most often, animals appear in captivity because they are descendants of the same animal. White and golden tigers live mainly in zoos and private nurseries.

The first time I saw a tiger was at the Kiev Zoo. He lay on a stone with his belly up to the top and basked in the warm sun. I really wanted to climb over the fence and pet this beautiful cat. But of course I didn't do that. The tiger is not a gentle animal. This is a formidable and intelligent predator that can only be found in some parts of our planet.

Where do tigers live

Today tigers Can meet in a limited area. Scientists divide tigers into nine types. But three of them is already final destroyed. Previously tiger population numbered about 100,000 individuals. But over the last hundred years this the figure decreased to 4 thousand. People hunted tigers for their beautiful fur. Or just for fun. Today tigermeets only in the taiga, on Far East of Russia, China, Korea and India. Previously, it was found in the territories of Afghanistan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. What kind places to stay tigers choose:

• rainforests;
• bamboo thickets;
• taiga;
• mangrove swamps;
• savannas.

Depending on where you live, tigers differ in fur color And sizes. For example, Amur tiger- most large in its kind. But their left no more 500 individuals. Reside these beauties in Russia, in the Primorsky Territory and in China.Bengal tiger not as exterminated as other species and is the most numerous. He lives in India and Bangladesh. The governments of these countries carry out many programs to protect these wonderful animals from extinction. But exactly Bengal tiger more often becomes cannibal. On Sumatra Island and Malacca Peninsula reside the smallest representatives this type of cat. Weight Limit such a tiger reaches only 130 kilograms, whereas Amur tiger can weigh more than 350 kilograms.

Amazing tabby cats

The tiger is a very beautiful animal. He has a lot of amazing abilities. Here are some of them:

1. Tiger takes third place on the list largest predators on our planet.
2. Lives tiger about 20 years.
3. Tiger fangs have 10 cm long.
4. The tiger is an excellent swimmer. He loves to swim just for fun.
5. At night the tiger sees V 6 times better than a human.
6. Tiger has nit's only striped fur, but also skin.
7. Identify the tiger Can along his stripes. They are unique.
8. Tiger paw strike Maybe break the back of a brown bear.
9. Tiger Maybe imitate the voice of a leopard or bear.

Today tigers are in danger of extinction. In Russia, killing a tiger is punishable only by a fine, but in China, a poacher loses his life for this crime.

A large predator with luxurious fur and cat-like habits is the tiger. Today this animal is listed in the Red Book, since the probability of its extinction from the face of the earth is too high. Where do tigers live? Where can you find these unique tabby cats today?

Do tigers live in Africa?

There have never been tigers in the African wild. It is believed that the ancestor of all existing species of this striped cat is the South China tiger. Consequently, the center of origin and distribution of the predator is China. From there the animals traveled north and south through the Himalayas. They began to populate Iran and Turkey, and spread across the islands of Bali, Sumatra, Java, and throughout India and the Malay Peninsula. But wild cats did not make it the long way to Africa. In addition, the climate and living conditions do not meet the natural needs of these animals.

The tiger is an Asian animal. The historical range occupies the territory of the Russian Far East, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and the countries of Southeast Asia. Today this range is strongly dissected into separate populations, some of which are significantly distant from each other.

The territory where predators lived began to form about two million years ago in northern China. Moving south through the Himalayas, they gradually occupied an area with the following borders: the Sunda Islands - from the south, the mouth of the Amur - from the west, Northern Iran - from the east and Kazakhstan - from the north. Today, tigers have been extirpated from most of this range.

Where do tabby cats live?

Researchers identify nine subspecies of the striped predator, three of which have already completely disappeared. Wild cats live in different landscapes. They like tropical rainforests, dry savannas, bamboo thickets, semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, and bare rocky hills. The name of all existing subspecies contains a territorial attribute.

Amur tiger

Other names are Siberian, North Chinese, Ussuri, Manchurian. Habitat: fourteen regions. The most significant populations are concentrated in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk regions of Russia, in northeastern China and North Korea.

As a result of the last two surveys, the largest undivided range of Amur cats in nature was discovered, about five hundred and twenty individuals. This fact makes this population the largest in the world.

Bengal raptor

It lives in Nepal, Bhutan, India and Bangladesh. This subspecies inhabits mangroves, savannas, and rain forests. The majority of Bengalis occupy the Terai-Duar ecoregion.

Bengal cats are the most numerous, but they are also endangered. The main reasons: poaching and destruction of the natural environment. A large-scale conservation project launched in India at the end of the twentieth century stopped the process of extinction of striped predators. In the nineties, this program was recognized as one of the most successful.

Indochinese tiger

The habitat is limited to Cambodia, southern China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia. The approximate number of individuals is one thousand two hundred. This figure gave the subspecies the second largest number among other striped cats. The largest number of Indochinese tigers is concentrated in Malaysia. Strict measures in this country do not allow poachers to run rampant. But the population is threatened by inbreeding and habitat fragmentation.

Three quarters of Vietnamese animals were killed to sell organs for Chinese medicine. Today, killing or capturing animals is strictly prohibited.

Malayan predator

Researchers identified it as a subspecies only in 2004. Previously, the population was classified as an Indochinese species. The Malays live exclusively on the island of Malacca, in its southern part. Today it is the third largest subspecies, with a population of six to eight hundred individuals.

Sumatran tiger

Place of residence: Indonesian island of Sumatra. There are four to five hundred cats of this subspecies found in the wild. Most of them are located in national parks and reserves. But here, too, animals are in danger: even in strictly protected areas of Sumatra, deforestation occurs.

Meanwhile, unique genetic markers were found in the genotype of this subspecies. This indicates that, on the basis of this species, a separate species of feline may develop over time. Unless the Sumatran predator goes extinct, of course. Indeed, today it is represented in the smallest quantity.

Chinese tiger

A subspecies that is on the verge of extinction. In the wild, the last predator was killed in 1994. Today, South China cats are kept only in captivity.

Extinct subspecies

A Balinese who previously lived on the island of Bali. The last individual of this breed was killed by hunters in 1937. And these cats have never been kept in captivity.

The Transcaucasian was found in Armenia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan. The animal was last seen in 1968 in southeastern Turkey.

Yavansky lived on the Indonesian island of Java until the eighties of the twentieth century. The extinction was due to the destruction of natural habitat and hunting.

Thus, the main habitat of tigers is Asia. Do you know where the skunk lives?

How long do tigers live?

How long do lions live? Oh, tigers. We're talking about them.

In the wild, tabby cats can live up to twenty-six years. The highest mortality rate is among tiger cubs under one and a half years old. About fifty percent die. Moreover, the more babies in the litter, the more often they die.

Animals reach sexual maturity at the age of four to five years. Pregnancy lasts three and a half months. Most often, a tigress gives birth to two or three cubs, less often – one, four or five. Babies stay with their mother for two to three years. During this time, they almost acquire the size of an adult. A new litter is born only when the previous one begins an independent life.

The tigress does not leave her cubs alone for long. Only towards the end of the first year of their life does the mother begin to go far away. The ability to hunt is not an innate skill. The cubs learn all the methods and techniques from their mother.

For some time, while the cubs are very small, the tigress does not let their father get close to them. Only later, perhaps, will an adult tiger be allowed to visit its family.

Tiger ( Panthera tigris) - a predator of the class mammals, such as chordates, the order Carnivora, the cat family, the panther genus, the subfamily big cats. It got its name from the ancient Persian word tigri, which means “sharp, fast,” and from the ancient Greek word “arrow.”

The tiger is the largest and heaviest member of the cat family. Some male tigers reach a length of 3 meters and weigh over 300 kg. Tigers are listed in the Red Book, and hunting these animals is prohibited.

Tiger: description and photographs

Tigers are distinguished by a flexible, muscular body and a round head with a convex forehead, expressive eyes and small but sensitive ears. Tigers see perfectly in the dark, and according to scientists, they can distinguish colors. Bengal and Amur tigers are the largest of their species. The size of these tigers can reach 2.5-2.9 meters in length (excluding the tail), and the weight of tigers of this species reaches 275-320 kg. The height of a tiger at the withers is 1.15 m. The average weight of an adult male is 180-250 kg.

According to official data, the record recorded weight of the largest tiger (Bengal) was 388.7 kg.

Moreover, females are usually smaller in size than males.

Elastic white tiger whiskers grow in 4-5 rows, framing the tiger's muzzle. With sharp fangs up to 8 cm long, the tiger easily deals with its prey.

Special keratinized protrusions on the side of the movable tongue help to cut the carcass of a killed animal, and also serve as an auxiliary means of hygiene. Adult mammals have 30 teeth.

There are 5 fingers on the front paws of a tiger, there are only 4 on the hind paws, and retractable claws are located on each finger.

Tiger ears are small and round in shape. The animal's pupil is round and the iris is yellow.

Southern species of tigers have short and dense hair, while their northern counterparts are fluffier.

The color of the animals is predominantly rust with a red or brown tint; the chest and belly are much lighter, and sometimes even white.

The tiger owes its exceptional beauty to the dark brown or completely black stripes located throughout the body. The tiger's stripes have characteristic pointed ends, sometimes bifurcating, then joining again. Typically an animal has more than 100 stripes.

The long tail, covered with rings of stripes, is always black at the end. The tiger's stripes are uniquely positioned, like a human fingerprint, and serve as excellent camouflage for the animal.

The track of a male tiger is longer and more elongated than that of a female. The length of the male tiger's track is 15-16 cm, the width is 13-14 cm. The length of the female tiger's track reaches 14-15 cm, and the width is 11-13 cm.

The roar of a tiger can be heard at a distance of almost 3 kilometers.

Despite their considerable weight, tigers can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h regardless of the surrounding landscape.

The lifespan of an animal in captivity is approximately 15 years.

Who is stronger - a lion or a tiger?

This question worries and interests many. Unfortunately, there are very few recorded facts about battles between a lion and a tiger, so there is no reason to talk about the superiority of one representative of the animal world over another. It is only possible to compare a tiger and a lion according to their external parameters and lifestyle.

• So, as for the weight category, although a little, about 50-70 kg, the tiger is still heavier than the lion.
• In terms of jaw compression force when biting, both animals are in the same positions.
• The principle of killing the chosen victim is also identical - both the tiger and the tiger bite into the neck of their prey, piercing it with powerful fangs.
• But in terms of lifestyle, these two predators are radically different. The tiger is a born solitary hunter who prefers to get food in his own “lands”, that is, in a marked territory. Fights between relatives are almost impossible, since tigers rarely intersect with each other during the hunt. Lions live in pride clans, so males often fight not only for the right to hunt, but also for the “lady of the heart” during mating games. Often such fights end with serious wounds and even the death of one of the lions.
• It is impossible to say with certainty who is more resilient - a lion or his striped brother from the cat family. Both animals run quite quickly, covering considerable distances, but such a criterion as endurance can be justified by the age of these predators, living conditions, or their state of health.

There are facts when trained lions fought with the same circus tigers. Basically, the lion emerged victorious from the battle, but again, this conclusion is subjective, no one kept statistics, so you should not use such information as a 100% statement of superiority.

Both animals, the lion and the tiger, are very strong, powerful and perfectly adapted to their natural environment.

Subspecies of tigers, names, descriptions and photos

The classification identifies 9 subspecies of the tiger, 3 of which, unfortunately, have already disappeared from the face of the earth. Today in nature live:

• Amur (Ussuri) tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica)

The largest and smallest representative of the species, distinguished by thick fur and a relatively small number of stripes. The color of the Amur tiger is orange with a white belly, the fur is thick. The body length of males reaches 2.7 – 3.8 meters. The weight of a male Amur tiger is 180-220 kg. The height of the Amur tiger at the withers is 90-106 cm.

A population of approximately 500 Ussuri tigers inhabits the Amur region of Russia. A number of individuals are found in North Korea and northeast China. The Amur tiger is listed in the Red Book of Russia.

• Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris, Panthera tigris bengalensis)

Characterized by the largest numbers, representatives have a bright coat color from yellow to light orange. In nature, there are also white Bengal tigers that do not have stripes at all, but they are rather a mutated species. The length of the Bengal tiger reaches 270-310 cm, females are smaller and reach a length of 240-290 cm. The tiger's tail is 85-110 cm long. The height at the withers is 90-110 cm. The weight of the Bengal tiger is from 220 to 320 kg as a maximum.

According to various sources, the population of this tiger species includes from 2.5 to 5 thousand individuals, most of which live in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and South Asia.

Albino white tiger

• Indochinese tiger ( Panthera tigris corbetti)

It is distinguished by a dull red color and numbers a little more than a thousand individuals. The stripes of this species are narrower and shorter. This type of tiger is smaller in size than others. The length of the male is 2.55-2.85 cm, the length of the female is 2.30-2.55 cm. The weight of a male Indochinese tiger reaches 150-195 kg, the weight of a female tiger is 100-130 kg.

The area where Indochinese tigers live is Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Southeast Asia, and Southern China.

• Malayan tiger ( Panthera tigris jacksoni)

The third largest subspecies in the number of individuals, living in the Malaysian, southern region of the Malay Peninsula.

This is the smallest tiger among all species. The length of a male Malayan tiger is 237 cm, the length of females is up to 200 cm. The weight of a male Malayan tiger is 120 kg, the weight of females does not exceed 100 kg. In total, there are about 600-800 tigers of this species in nature.

• Sumatran tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae)

It is also considered the smallest representative of the species. The length of a male tiger is 220-25 cm, the length of females is 215-230 cm. The weight of male tigers is 100-140 kg, the weight of females is 75-110 kg.

About 500 representatives are found in nature reserves on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

• South China tiger (Chinese tiger) ( Panthera tigris amoyensis)

A small subspecies, no more than 20 of these tigers live in captivity in the south and center of China.

The body length of males and females is 2.2-2.6 meters, the weight of males does not exceed 177 kg, the weight of females reaches 100-118 kg.

Extinct species are Bali tiger, Caspian tiger And Javan tiger.

In addition to white tigers, species with a yellow color are sometimes born; such animals are called golden tigers. The fur of such tigers is lighter and the stripes are brown.

Tiger hybrids

Hybrids, born from crossing the big tabby cat and other representatives of the panther genus, began to appear in captivity as early as the 19th century.

• Liger

A hybrid of a lion and a female tiger, it is enormous in size and reaches three meters in length in adulthood.

• Tigrolev (tigon)

A hybrid of a tiger and a lioness, always smaller than its parents and endowed with the characteristics of both: paternal stripes and maternal spots. Males have a mane, but it is smaller than that of a liger.

Tigers and ligers are born exclusively in zoos. In the wild, tigers and lions do not interbreed.

Ussuri tigers live in the Amur region in Russia, Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories, about 10% of the population is found in North Korea and northeast China. Bengal tigers live in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and South Asia. The area where Indochinese tigers live is Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Southeast Asia, and Southern China. The Malayan tiger lives in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula. Sumatran tigers are found in nature reserves on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Chinese tigers live in south-central China.

For their habitats, these striped predators prefer a variety of areas: tropical rainforests, shady jungles, semi-desert regions and savannas, bamboo thickets and steep rocky hills. The tiger is so able to adapt to conditions that it feels great both in hot climates and in the harsh northern taiga. Steep cliffs with numerous niches or secret caves, secluded reed or reed thickets near water bodies are the most favorite territories where the tiger makes his lair, hunts and raises restless and nimble offspring.

Tiger's lifestyle and habits

Possessing quite massive dimensions and enormous strength, tigers feel like absolute masters of the territory in which they live. Leaving his marks with urine everywhere, stripping the bark from trees along the perimeter of his property and loosening the soil with his claws, the male tiger clearly marks his “land”, not allowing other males there.

At the same time, tigers from the same “family” are quite friendly to each other and sometimes behave very funny during communication: they touch their muzzles, rub their striped sides, “snort” noisily and energetically, while exhaling air through their mouths or nose.

In nature, tigers are most often solitary animals, but in zoos with these cats everything looks a little different. After the birth of a pair of offspring, the tiger-father takes care of the babies no less reverently than the tigress-mother: he spends leisure time with them during games, licks them and gently trembles in the form of punishment for the scruff of the neck. Watching the tiger family is really interesting.

In the natural environment, tigers do not limit themselves to the time of day during the hunt - when they are hungry and prey has turned up, then they will make a fatal throw for the victim. By the way, the tiger is an excellent swimmer and will never refuse to eat fish,