Tiger with extended paw

Tiger Facts

From The Book of Indian Animals by S.H. Prater

Types of Tigers:
The Bengal tiger (Pantera tigris tigris) is one of eight recognized subspecies of tigers, three of which have become extinct in the last 50 years. The Bengal has the largest population among the remaining tiger subspecies.

Where do Bengal tigers live?
Historically, Bengal tigers lived in all regions of India, from the snow-covered Himalayas at elevations of 10,000 feet, to the tropical rain forests of Cape Cormorin. Tigers may inhabit high-mountain terrain, mountain steppes, dry tropical forests, humid evergreen forests and mangrove swamps.

Tiger in swampland

Tigers are excellent swimmers and need a habitat with sources of water both for eating and bathing.

How large is the Bengal tiger?
Tigers are the largest living cat species in the world. Siberian tigers are generally the heaviest, with males often weighing more than 600 pounds. Sumatran tigers are the lightest, with males weighing only about 250 pounds. The average male Bengal tiger is nine feet to nine and one-half feet long. Females typically grow to eight and one-half feet in length. Males weigh 400 to 500 pounds and females average 300 to 400 pounds. Tigers that live in the Northern regions of India grow slightly larger than in Southern regions. They also are lighter in color.

What do Bengal tigers need to survive?
Just like humans, Bengals need three main things to survive: food, water and shelter. Tigers eat large mammalian prey. They especially like deer, antelope, bears, wild pigs, buffalo, wild cattle and porcupines. Tigers also need shelter in which to rest and stay cool. Sometimes this involves climbing trees for cat naps. Tigers also need a lot of water, especially after eating. The water is often used for bathing -- tigers are excellent swimmers!

When do Bengal tigers hunt?
Tigers prefer to hunt when it is coolest -- between sunset and dawn or during the day when cloudy and cool. Although tigers hunt primarily for food, they also are strong enough to kill other tigers and large cats, such as leopards.

Tiger cub

Tiger cubs stay with their mothers until age two, when they are ready to live on their own.

When do Bengal tigers reproduce?
Tigers breed between February and May, just after the rainy season in Asia. After breeding, 15-16 weeks will pass by before their cubs are born. Female tigers, called tigresses, typically have two cubs, but they can have as many as six. When the cubs are nearly ready to be born, a tigress seeks out a den site and prepares for her litter. Caves make particularly good dens. Male tigers stay with a female for only a short time after their cubs are born.

What about the growth cycle of a Bengal tiger?
When tiger cubs are six months old, they are ready to join their parents on hunts. They stay with their mothers until age two. At that time, they are ready to live on their own. When young tigers reach three (for females) and four years of age (for males), they can have babies of their own. Tigers may live for as long as 20 years.