Known for their trademark black stripes and affinity for Frosted Flakes, tigers are the largest of the Asian big cats. Far from your average housecat, these felines rely on their sight and sound rather than their sense of smell.
Tigers are rather solitary creatures by nature, electing to hunt and stalk their prey alone. These guys are serious eaters – your average tiger can consume upwards to 88 pounds of meat in one sitting. That’s more weight than your average 10-year-old!
Deer and other bovids are the top prey for tigers. Their hunting habits are some of the most lethal in nature, having the ability to silently stalk and move in for the attack. You’ll never hear or see these guys coming.
You might think that your little kitty cat is a close family member of the tiger, but their closest living ancestors are the lion, leopard and jaguar.
Generally, tigers will give birth to new cubs every 2-2.5 years. It doesn’t take long for these cubs to gain their independence – by two years of age they’re often fending for themselves. The oldest living tigers in the wild have reached age 26!
Tigers may be cute but they’re far from your average lap cat at home. Weighing upwards to 860 lbs, you probably don’t want any tiger sitting on you! Male tigers are often heavier than female tigers, a trait useful for identifying different genders.
This exotic species of cat is most populated throughout forest regions in Asia. As they continue to compete with growing human populations, much of habitat is at-risk. Despite their amazing power and agility, tigers are continually threatened by humans.
Can you imagine a world without tigers? It’s up to us to make positive changes to help preserve the tiger populations of the world. For more information on how you can help, visit the World Wildlife Fund.
Animal Profiles: Tigers
