Tiger (Panthera tigris) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on large ungulate mammals. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Tiger
- Since the early 20th century, tiger populations have lost at least 93% of their historic range, shrinking to less than a tenth of where they once roamed. The IUCN now lists the species as Endangered, noting that its range is thought to have declined by 53% to 68% since the late 1990s. This massive contraction means most tigers live in tiny, isolated patches, making them vulnerable to poaching and habitat loss.
- Male Bengal tigers tip the scales at 200-260 kg (440-570 lb), while their Siberian cousins can exceed 423 kg, making them the heaviest living big cats. By contrast, the smallest wild subspecies, the Sumatran tiger, males weigh only 100-140 kg (220-310 lb).
- A male tiger's territory can dwarf a small country: in Russia's Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, resident males roamed 847-1,923 km² (327-742 sq mi), overlapping the 248-520 km² (96-201 sq mi) ranges of 14 females. Such expansive home ranges reflect the low density of large prey and the need for solitary males to patrol vast tracts.
- Tigers are built for water: they can easily traverse rivers as wide as 8 km (5 mi), and some individuals have been recorded swimming a staggering 29 km in a single crossing.
- Tiger density varies wildly: in India's Jim Corbett National Park camera traps recorded 12-17 tigers per 100 km² (39 sq mi), while northern Myanmar's forest-grassland mosaic held only 0.21-0.44 per 100 km² in 2009.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietLarge ungulate mammals
About the Tiger
In the dappled shadows of the forest, the tiger moves with a silent majesty, its burnished coat blending seamlessly into the surroundings as it pads effortlessly across the underbrush. With each deliberate step, its powerful limbs unfold and refold, a symphony of muscle and sinew that propels it through the trees with a fluid, almost ethereal, grace. As it navigates its dwindling domain, the tiger remains a formidable and awe-inspiring presence, its piercing gaze and tawny beauty a testament to the enduring wonder of the natural world.
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