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Ti gers
are well known for their immense strength and power. They are known
to bring down animals weighing almost ten times their own weight and
then dragging them away to shelter. A tiger itself weighs between
130 - 180kgs. A majority of this consists of muscle mass as the
skeleton itself is relatively small and fragile. Tigers grow to an
average height of 90cms. Their main prey species are herbivores, the
favourites being Sambhar and Spotted deer. They eat an average of 5
kgs in a sitting and can eat up to 25 kgs in a day. A kill can feed
a tiger for 2 - 4 days. Tigers mostly do not try and make another
kill immediately after finishing with the previous one. They usually
give a 2-3 break before setting out on the next hunt. They have a
life expectancy ranging from 15 - 20 years. Their breeding season
begins towards the end of the monsoons and carries into the early
months of winter. The mates stay together for a period of
approximately 10 days. The gestation period is a short one of 105
days. Tigresses give birth to 3 - 6 cubs |
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Distribution
Tigers range from India to Siberia and South East Asia.
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Habitat
Tigers. preferred habitat is forest although they can also be found in
grassland and swamp margins. They require sufficient cover, a good
population of large prey and a constant water supply |
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Diet
Their main prey species are large animals such as deer, buffalo and
wild pigs, but they will also hunt fish, monkeys, birds, reptiles and
sometimes even baby elephants. Occasionally, tigers kill leopards,
bears and other tigers. |
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Behaviour
Tigers are solitary (with the exception of mothers with cubs) although
they ma y
sometimes come together to share a kill. Unlike most other cats,
tigers are fond of water and are strong swimmers.
Tigers stalk and ambush their prey. They use dense covering to conceal
themselves and sneak up on their prey. When the tiger is close enough
it suddenly rushes at its prey and kills it by grabbing the throat or
nape of the neck.
Females occupy ranges between 25-1600 sq. km. Males occupy larger
ranges which may overlap with the ranges of several females.
More than other big cats, tigers have a reputation as man-eaters. In
truth, it is rare for a tiger to attack people. It is normally old or
injured tigers who are the culprits, as they are less able to catch
their usual prey |
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Reproduction
Females will give birth to 2-4 cubs after a gestation of 104 days.
They will stay with their mother for up to two years before leaving to
stake out their own territories. Males look for territories away from
their birth site, but females may sometimes share their mothers
territories.
As with lions, male tigers may kill a female's cubs if the cubs are
the offspring of another male. This ensures that the female will come
into oestrus and bear the new male's offspring. They are active at
dawn and dusk |
