Tigers

Tiger

Introduction: Tiger is the largest member of the cat family. Like the lion, leopard, and others, the tiger is one of the big, or roaring, cats. Only the lion in strength and ferocity rival it.

Where Found: The tiger is thought to have originated in northern Eurasia and to have moved southward. Its present range extends from the Russian Far East through parts of China, India, and Southeast Asia.

Classification: There are about seven or eight generally accepted races of tiger. Of these, the Javan tiger, Bali tiger, and Caspian tiger are believed to be extinct; the Chinese tiger is near extinction; and the Sumatran, Siberian, and Indian subspecies are listed as definitely endangered.

Size, Color and Other characteristics: The size, colour, and striped markings of the tiger vary according to locality and race. Tigers of the south are smaller and more brightly colored than those of the north. The Bengal tiger and those of the islands of Southeast Asia are bright reddish tan, beautifully marked with dark, almost black, stripes. Their underpants, inner sides of the limbs, the cheeks, and a large spot over each eye are whitish. The very large and very rare Siberia tiger of northern china and Russia, however, has longer, softer, and paler fur. There are a few black and white tigers. The tiger has no mane, but in old males, the hair on the cheeks is rather ling and spreading. The male tiger is larger than the female. A male tiger may attain a shoulder height of about I m; a length of about 2.2m, excluding a tail of about 1 m; and a weight about 160-260 kg, or a maximum of about 290 kg.

Food: The tiger is a carnivorous animal. It lives on flesh of animals. It drinks the blood first, and then feeds on the flesh.

Habitat: The tiger lives in grassy and swampy areas and forests. It also haunts the ruins of buildings such as courts and temples. It swims well and enjoys bathing. Under stress, it may climb trees. The tiger hunts by night and preys on a variety of animals, including deer and wild hog. It generally avoids healthy large beasts, although, in some instances, it attacks elephants and adult buffaloes. Cattle are sometimes taken from human habitations. An old or disabled tiger or a tigress with cubs may find human beings an easier prey and become a man-eater.

Reproduction: In warn regions the tiger produces young at any time of year; in cold regions it bears its cubs in spring. Litter size is usually two or three, and gestation period averages 113 days. The cubs are striped and remain with the mother until about the second year, when they are nearly adult and are able to kill prey for themselves. The tigress does not breed again until her cubs are independent. The average life span of a tiger is about 11 years.

Conclusion: The Royal Bengal Tiger is an endangered species. The number of this type of tigers is dwindling day by day due to indiscriminate poaching. It has been hunted for spot and for fur. It is valued for the supposed curative and protective properties of various limbs of its body. There is no doubt that steps should be taken to stop this killing. Otherwise, this majestic creature will be extinct soon.