Except perhaps for the famous rare white bengal tigers, who are only found in captivity, probably most of us think all tigers are alike, yet that is not true. There are six tiger subspecies in the world today, the sumatran tiger, the indochinese tiger, the bengal tiger, the siberian tiger, the malayan tiger and the south china tiger. On occasion the bengal tiger s natural diet may also be supplemented by. Since white tigers have pigmented stripes and blue eyes, they are not albinos. The bengal tiger panthera tigris tigris, also known as royal bengal tiger or indian tiger is a subspecies of tiger that lives in india, nepal, bangladesh, bhutan, myanmar and china in southern tibet. Facts about the bengal tiger that will leave you flabbergasted. More tigers in american backyards than in the wild. The caspian tiger panthera virgila, also known as the hyrcanian or turan tiger, inhabited the sparse forests and river corridors of the arid caspian sea region, including afghanistan, iran, iraq, turkey, portions of russia, and western china. Tigers are icons of beauty, power, and the importance of conservation. The main antagonist of the jungle book, shere khan, is a bengal tiger. One averaged sized tiger can eat up to 60 pounds of meat at a single time.
Tiger facts for kids information on tigers dk find out. It may be natural for tigers to kill but it is a natural activity that they can manage quite well without. The wild population of the bengal tiger is approximately 3,2504,700, with. None of the tiger conservation landscapes within the bengal s tiger range are large enough to support an effective population size of 250. It is threatened by poaching, loss, and fragmentation of habitat, and was. There are several hundred captive white bengal tigers worldwide this number increases annually, all of whom can trace their ancestry back. In some zoos they feed bengal tigers with camel and donkey meat. Diet the bengal tiger is a carnivore and will dine on whatever meat is available in the area in which they live. The bengal tigers coat is yellow to light orange, with stripes ranging from dark brown to black. Our goal is to bolster tiger captive management in zoos by studying their. The bengal tiger is one of the most special subspecies of the. However, an integral component of their diet are largebodied prey weighing about 20 kg 45 lbs. After killing its prey, the tiger always starts feeding from the hindquarters first.
White tiger facts show that there have been many instances of books, games, television shows and other artistic outlets that have included references to white tigers. White bengal tigers or tigers of mixed bengal amur ancestry have pink noses, whitetocreme coloured fur and black, grey or chocolatecoloured stripes. The life expectancy for male bengal tigers is between 10 and 12 years, while for females is slightly longer, but the specimens in captivity can live to 26 years. They are commonly seen in the shade or wading in pools to cool off. Since the breeding program for indian bengal tigers turned out to be very successful, more programs were carried out. In the last few years, we have been seeing signs of tiger population. Saving indias tigers, 2004 protein is a very important part of the bengal tiger s diet and, on average a fully grown bengal tiger can eat around sixty five pounds of meat in one night. It is the third largest tiger population behind the bengal tiger and the indochinese tiger. Breeding programs for the bengal tiger of india were started from the year 1880 only. Recent protection measures along with habitat management have resulted in. Some tiger cubs are removed from their mothers and cared for by humans to ensure they get adequate nutrition and even medical care that may be necessary, 2009. It is evident that the ideal condition for any species is its natural habitat. It was the second largest of the tiger subspecies the siberian is the largest. Bengal tiger facts for kids the coat exhibits yellowishorange color and are mostly dominated by the brown or black stripes that run across its belly together with a white tail.
Among all the six subspecies of tigers that are left, the bengal tiger is the second largest, the siberian tiger being the first. In october 2011, an exotic pet owner let loose his dangerous menagerie into the local community in zanesville. Studbooks for selected endangered species in indian zoos awarded to the. Bengal tiger facts, pictures, habitat, information, diet. The bengal tiger is a panthera tigris tigris population native to the indian subcontinent.
What do bengal tigers eat bengal tiger diet zooologist. Tony the tiger, a 550pound siberianbengal mix, lives in a cage at a. Bengal tiger at the baghdad zoo acting edition for. The bengal tiger can live up to 15 years in the wild on its own, and up to 20 years in captivity. Most young are born between february and may, and after a gestation between 98 and 108 days, give birth to a litter of 1 to 6 cubs usually 2 to 4 of 1. It is the largest landliving mammal whose diet consists mainly of meat tigers require large areas with forest cover, water, and prey such as deer and swine. First, it is clear that tigers in captivity are dangerous animals that can cause serious. Tigers belong to the same family as the cat, and are the largest members of this family. The white tiger is a recessive mutant of the tiger, which is reported in the wild from time to time in assam, bengal, bihar, and especially from the former state of rewa. Lion vs tiger in the wild and in captivity who has won. It is the largest and best known subspecies of tiger, and is in a great variety of habitats, including savannas and forests tropical and.
This book chapter discusses the applications of conservation physiology tools in the. It is threatened by poaching, loss, and fragmentation of habitat, and was estimated at comprising fewer than 2,500 individuals by 2011. While they do not form the essential part of the diet, bengal tigers do occasionally take on other predators such as crocodiles, wolves, asiatic black bears, sloth. Learn five surprising facts about these striped felines, including how large the cats can. However, an integral component of their diet are largebodied prey weighing. The white tiger is a rare variety of the bengal tiger, which is found throughout the indian subcontinent. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orangebrown fur with a lighter underside. Easily recognized by its coat of reddishorange with dark stripes, the tiger is the largest wild cat in the world. Native to the savanna regions, they will hunt any livestock they can take down.
The continental tiger s habitat extends across asia, from the russian far east to mangrove forests of the sundarbans to the lower mekong. In the wild it is estimated that there are 3,1594,715 bengal tigers and 360406 siberian tigers tilson et al. A bengal tiger photographed at alabama gulf coast zoo in gulf shores. Reproduction tigers breed during the winter season, and females give birth to 24 blind cubs about 103 days later. Common prey includes various buck species, wild boars, porcupines, hares and birds. Each tiger species has specific vitamins and minerals that they will need to be provided. Bengal tigers have been captive bred since 1880 and widely crossed with other tiger. America has a tiger problem and no ones sure how to solve it. Domestic cats purr when breathing in as well as out tigers purr only when breathing out. The instinct to kill remains with all big cats regardless of how many generations they have been bred in captivity. None of the tiger conservation landscapes within its range is considered large enough to support an effective population of more than 250 adult individuals. It is an apex predator, primarily preying on ungulates such as deer and wild boar. Males are larger than females and may attain a shoulder height of about 1 metre and a length of about 2. Zoos will adjust the amount of food given according to the weight of the individual animals.
The only time then that live feeding should ever be taught in captivity is if a big cat were to be returned to the wild. Therefore, it will spend much of its life hunting, only to eat once every four or five days. Bengal tigers hunt mediumsized and largesized animals, such as wild boar an omnivorous mammal, sambar a kind of deer, barasingha a kind of deer, chital a spotted deer, nilgai an antelope, gaur a large ox of south asia and water buffalo. The bengal tiger is the most numerous of the tiger subspecies with populations estimated at. What do white tigers eat white tiger diet kidz feed. It is estimated that every tiger consumes about 50 deersized animals each year, about one per week. Approximately 490 siberian tigers are in captive breeding programs. The bengal tiger s body size is 5 to 6 feet in length and their tail can be 2 to 3 feet in length. In captivity white tigers are fed with a diet that contains high amount of proteins and fats. Get to know the large, medium and small sized animals that bengal tigers hunt. What do bengal tigers eat in captivity a bengal tiger requires a diet that is highly rich in proteins and fats. Learn five surprising facts about these striped felines, including how large the cats can be, an. The roar of a bengal tiger can be heard 2 miles away.
The tigers were bred for the first time at the alipore zoo of calcutta now kolkata. The studbook of bengal tiger panthera tigris tigris is a part of the. Tigers eat a variety of prey ranging in size from termites to elephant calves. A female tiger gives birth to a litter of three or four cubs. Here at australia zoo we just love animals from the tiniest lizard to the tallest giraffe. Tiger facts photos and videos, siberian tiger, bengal.
Diet quantities should be increased 1020% in animals housed outdoors during winter months. It stands three feet tall with teeth four inches long and claws as long as house keys. The lion aimed terrible blows at his antagonist, which the tiger avoided with marvelous skill. Australia zoo is a great environment for our animals it provides, not only, a haven for our collection of over one hundred different species including steves favourites the crocodile, tiger and cheetah, but is also a great platform for those same animals to act as ambassadors for their cousins. Males are larger than females and may attain a shoulder height. Their numbers reached an alltime low by the mid2000s. The truth is that tigers have had to survive in captivity because of hunting, poaching, the loss of their habitat and other anthropogenic threats. Discuss the role and inclusion of dietary supplements in feeding regimes for zoo animals siberian tigers are given meats which have been scored and had vitamin and mineral powders rubbing into them to make sure they are getting their dietary requirements naturally without having to try make them take tablets within their food. The largest tiger subspecies, the siberian, also called amur, are 10.
Complete list of animals that are part of bengal tiger diet. There were nine tiger subspecies at one time, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Bengal tiger breeding program breeding program for. They have night vision six times better than humans. Habitat destruction conversion and fragmentation, poaching of tigers and their. Captive large cats should eat 918 pounds of meat 46% of their body weight when fed five times a week. Bengal tiger at the baghdad zoo acting edition for theater productions 9780822225652.
The length of the bengal tiger measures around 270 310 cm 110 120 inches, in which the. Bengal panthera tigris tigris and siberian panthera tigris altaica subspecies figures 1. Occasionally they may consume tapirs, elephant and rhinoceros calves, bear species. In the nagarahole national park, sambar deer makes up 29% of the overall diet. White bengal tigers eyes are usually blue, but may be green or amber. It is the same as a regular bengal tiger but has white fur with black stripes. The tiger panthera tigris is the largest extant cat species and a member of the genus panthera. It is territorial and generally a solitary but social predator, requiring large contiguous areas of habitat, which. The bengal tiger has many adaptations ranging from its camouflaged coat, its large eyes and strong muscles for capturing prey, its fur and warm blood to keep it warm in the jungle and its lungs and nostrils for oxygen support.
On average the big cat weighs 450 pounds, about the same as eight tenyearold kids. The most favorite prey animal of a bengal tiger is gaur which forms almost 45% of the tiger s diet. In captivity, tigers eat considerably less because of sedentary life styles that burn fewer calories hines. Habitat destructionconversion and fragmentation, poaching of tigers and. In captivity a white tigers eat less than they used to eat in the wild due to less physical activity. But mostly these tigers diet consist of beef, chickens, pigs, water. For many decades, tiger populations declined precipitously as a result of habitat loss, poaching, and trade of tiger products. It had a stocky build with wide paws and unusually long claws. White tigers are extremely rare in the wild, particularly because they are hunted as trophies and for the exotic pet trade. Bengal tiger diet bengal tigers are carnivores which means they eat meat rather than plants.
One of the most obvious bengal tiger adaptations is its ability to hunt prey. All white tigers are of the bengal subspeciesfor every 20 attempts at killing an animal, a tiger is only successful once. In 1996, michael nichols, photographer and editoratlarge with national geographic. Found exclusively in the southern part of the malay peninsula. The tiger hunts alone, primarily between dusk and dawn, traveling six to 20 miles in a night in search of prey. One of the worlds largest populations of tigers exists not in the wildbut in captivity in the united states. Conservation the bengal tiger has been classified as endangered by iucn as the population is estimated at fewer than 2,500 individuals with a decreasing trend. Our animals at australia zoo we love all of our wildlife. Nutritional requirments of the bengal tiger a few facts the beauty of a tiger can be found in southeast asia in parts of india, bangladesh, china, indonesia estimated 2,500, classified endangered yellow to light orange colouring, dark brownblack stripes. Nutritional requirements of bengal tiger by aron somes on.