I have not come close to see a tiger with my own eyes since I was born, only through reading about them and seeing various documentaries on them have I come to know of their existence.  They are charismatic, magnificent, intelligent  creatures and stealth hunters, both feared and admired.

The tiger is the biggest and strongest of the four big cats in the world. Its large size and immense strength help it to catch prey search as dear and cattle. The tiger’s stripes blur the animals’ outlines and help them to blend with dappled light filtering through the forests canopy or with shifting patterns of waving grass.  Camouflage is their technique during hunting. They can easily creep up on some unsuspecting deer, or lie in wait until it comes near.

The tiger family consists of: The Siberian Tiger/Amur Tiger, which is the largest, the Sumatran Tiger, the Bengal Tiger/ Indian Tiger,the Indochinese Tiger/Corbett’s Tiger, the Malayan Tiger and The south China Tiger, which is extinct in the wild. The Caspian Tiger, the Javan Tiger and the Bali Tiger are among the extinct tigers.

From top left; Siberian Tiger, Bengal Tiger, Sumatran Tiger, Indochinese Tiger, Malayan Tiger, South China Tiger

FACTS ABOUT TIGERS

• They are Asian
• Their pattern of stripes is unique for each animal
• They weigh between 220-660 pounds. Males are heavier than females.
• Length 4’7” to 9’10” long
• Rely primarily on sight and sound.
• They give birth to 2-3 cubs every 2-2.5 years, averagely.
• Tigers gain independence at 2 years of age and attain sexual maturity at 3-4 years for females and 4-5 years for males. They are known to reach the age of 26 years in the wild.
• Tigers are solitary animals but social and also fiercely territorial.
•  They are carnivores.
• They are mostly nocturnal animals (hunt at night).
• They are also very good swimmers.
• White tigers are a result of genetic mutation.

White Tiger

• Tigers have killed more humans than any other big cat. (This is because humans have invaded their habitat)
• They can leap forward up to 33 feet at a time

Tigers are endangered species, vulnerable to extinction.  About 3200 exist in the world. This is a really small number.  ‘Is it too late?’, ‘Do we have time to save them?’ These are the questions that fill my mind with hope of seeing them one day, for the next generation and even for the now generation as not everyone has had the opportunity to see them.

Human-wildlife conflict, poaching, illegal trade of animal parts, global warming, habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation are among the major risks which are reducing their population. Significant changes must take place if we are going to be able to get their numbers high enough to have strong hopes of their survival. The future of these animals is critical. They are very important animals in the ecosystem.

When a man wants to murder a tiger, he calls it sport; when the tiger wants to murder him, he calls it ferocity.

George Bernard show.

Images – Google