TIGERS

BY SUKESH S. MOMLE

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TIGER?

The tiger reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 metres and weighing up to 306 kg .tigers can live upto 20 to 26 years.The global population in the wild is estimated to number between 3,062 to 3,948 individuals.They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature.The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and India.

SUBSPECIES OF TIGEER THE BENGAL TIGER INDOCHINESE TIGER MALAYAN TIGER SUMATRAN TIGER SIBERIAN TIGER SOUTH CHINA TIGER BALI TIGER CASPIAN TIGER JAVAN TIGER

THE BENGAL TIGERFound in India, Nepal, Bhutan and BangladeshPopulation in India is “1704”440 in Bangladesh, 155 in Nepal and 75 in BhutanLength of male, including tail, is 270 to 310 cm.Length of females range from 240 to 265 cmThe weight of males range from 175 to 260 kg.The weight of females range from 100 to 181 kg.Between 1994 and 2009, the wildlife protection society of india has documented 893 cases of tigers killed in India

THE INDOCHINESE TIGERfound in Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. These tigers are smaller and darker than Bengal tigers.Population around the world is 350.Males weight range from 150–190 kg .females weight range from 110–140 kg.almost three-quarters of the tigers killed provide stock for Chinese pharmacies.

THE MALAYAN TIGERfound in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula. the population is around 500.the Malayan tiger is the second smallest of the tiger subspeciesThe weight of males averaging about 120 kgThe weight of females about 100 kg.The Malayan tiger is a national icon in Malaysia

THE SUMATRAN TIGERfound only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and is critically endangered.It is the smallest of all living tiger subspecies.males weighing between 100–140 kg.Females weighing between 75–110 kg.Population is between 400 and 500.66 tigers were recorded as being shot and killed between 1998 and 2000.which is nearly 20% of the total population.

THE SIBERIAN TIGERFound in the Amur-Ussuri region of Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in far eastern Siberia.Population estimated 331–393.Body length of males is 190–230 cm, plus a tail of about 60–110 cm.Body length of females is 160–180 cm .The heaviest wild Siberian tiger’s weight is recorded as 384 kg.

THE SOUTH CHINA TIGERFound only in south region of china.Listed as one of the 10 most endangered animals in the world. length 2.2m to 2.6m.Males weigh between 127 and 177 kg.females weigh between 100 and 118 kg.From 1983 to 2007, no South China tigers were sighted.In 2007 a farmer spotted a tiger and handed in photographs to the authorities as proof.There are currently 59 known captive South China tigers, all within China.

THE BALI TIGERThe Bali tiger was limited to the Indonesian island of Bali.Weight of 90–100 kg in males.Weight of 65–80 kg in females.the last Bali tiger, an adult female, is thought to have been killed at Sumbar Kima, West Bali on 27 September 1937.There is no Bali tiger in captivity

THE CASPIAN TIGERalso known as the Hyrcanian tiger or Turan tiger

Was found in west and south of the Caspian Sea and west through Central Asia.

has been recorded in the wild until the early 1940s.

THE JAVAN TIGERThe Javan tiger was limited to the island of Java, and has been recorded until the mid-1970s.

males weighed 100–140 kg .

Females weighed 75–115 kg .

After 1970 there is no sign of javan tiger is recorded.

COLOR VARIATIONS IN TIGERS WHITE TIGERThe white tiger is not a separate sub-species, but only a colour variation.the only white tigers that have been observed in the wild is in Bengal tigers.

COLOR VARIATIONS IN TIGERS(cntd) GOLDEN TABBY TIGER

Golden tabby tigers have light gold fur, pale legs and faint orange stripes.There are extremely few golden tabby tigers in captivity, around 30 in all.This variation occurs in Bengal tigersBoth white and golden tabby tigers tend to be larger than average Bengal tigers.

HYBRIDS Hybridisation among the big cats, including the tiger, was first conceptualised in the 19th century for increasing the financial gain of zoo’s.The combination of both tiger and lion is called hybrid tiger or ligers. Ligers are typically between 10 to 12 feet in length, and can be between 800 and 1,000 pounds or more.this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving specie and subspecies. Hybrids are still exist in private menageries and in zoos in China.

2011 TIGER PPOPULATIONCOUNTRY ESTIMATEBANGLADESH 440BHUTAN 75COMBODIA 20CHINA 45INDIA 1706INDONESIA 325LAOS 17MALAYSIA 500MYANMAR 85NEPAL 155RUSSIA 360THAILAND 200VIETNAM 20TOTAL 3948

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