Golden Bengal tiger. Rare and unusual tigers of the world - a mosaic of oddities
Among the many relatives of our domestic cats, there are those who kill a horse with a blow of their paw, make five-meter jumps, swim beautifully, and need 30-50 kg to get enough. meat. You probably already guessed that we are talking about tigers.
They live in Asia. There, along the banks of rivers, in dense thickets, their menacing voices are often heard. But it is not easy to see a tiger: thanks to its striped coloring, it is not visible even close up - the thickets hide it well. In addition, he prefers to hunt after sunset. Tiger- a wonderful hunter. He runs fast and is able to pursue prey for a long time. However, he usually attacks from an ambush. Anyone who is stalked by a predator rarely escapes its powerful fangs. The tiger's favorite prey is deer, wild pigs, antelope. He also occasionally hunts elk, bear, roe deer, and sometimes a hare. It also attacks domestic animals. If the hunt is not successful, tiger eats frogs, mice and even locusts. He can go for a long time without food at all.
Once numerous tigers became quite rare animals: they were destroyed because of their beautiful valuable fur and how dangerous predators. Now hunting tigers is prohibited.
Tigers easily get used to captivity. In many zoos you can see this predator and see that it really does look like our cats.
It’s not easy to find a predator on Earth that would be as beautiful, powerful, dexterous and known to most people on our planet as tiger. Tiger- the largest carnivorous mammal on the planet. For example, the weight of a large Amur tiger reaches 300-350 kilograms with a body length of 2.5-3 meters.
Typical places The habitat of the Amur tiger is mountain broad-leaved and cedar-broad-leaved forests. He especially loves forests with slopes, steep and high cliffs, stone niches and caves. Here the predator always finds food, without difficulty high points survey their possessions, have plenty of convenient places for a den, and raise their striped offspring in solitude.
Tiger – excellent hunter. He relies on sharp vision and keen hearing. Smell tiger, like all cats, is weak. Tiger always sneaks up as close as possible to the prey in order to finish the hunt with several jumps. A victim overtaken by it rarely escapes. In a short-range throw, like lightning, he covers a distance of 15 meters in a second. For long distances tigers they don't know how to run.
Eats tiger quite a lot: up to 30 - 40 kilograms at one time. Hungry large animal can eat 50 kilograms of meat. Usually, a wapiti or a wild boar weighing one and a half centners lasts him for a week, and a large elk or bear - for 10 days. After successful hunt and resting on abundant food, the tiger does not always manage to immediately get another animal, and then he does not eat for several days in a row. Even a long hunger strike tiger tolerates it without consequences for his body, because the layer of fat on his sides and stomach reaches a thickness of five centimeters.
Tigers They live sedentary, each in their own hunting area. The male and female are nearby. From their territory they drive away both their brothers and others large predators. Tigers- solitary animals. They, unlike lions, do not recognize pack life and love solitude.
In fights, the eternal question is also resolved: who will receive the right to leave offspring. Of course, the strongest leaves him. It is generally accepted that many animals die in fights. This is not true at all. The defeated person is usually not beaten to death. The weak, as soon as they realize that they are losing, tend to retreat quickly, while the strong show generosity. Tigers have weddings in any month, but most often at the end of winter.
After 3.5 months, in the most remote, impassable place, a solitary tigress gives birth to cubs. Usually there are two or three, sometimes one or four, and very rarely five. The babies are helpless, weigh no more than a kilogram, but develop and grow quickly. At the age of two weeks they begin to see, hear, double their weight in a month, become nimble and inquisitive. They get out of the den and even try to climb trees. They begin to eat meat as early as two months of age, but mother's milk suck for up to six months. At this age tiger cubs reach weight big dog and switch entirely to meat. The mother first brings them fresh food from her hunts, then leads them from one prey to another. Two-year-olds tiger cubs weigh up to one hundred kilograms and begin to hunt themselves under the guidance of their mother. Tigress patiently and thoroughly strives to pass on to his heirs all his experience, all his worldly wisdom. She will let her children live independently in complex world fully formed and well prepared. I have a lot of worries tigresses, and she copes with them alone. Tiger does not take any part in raising his children, although he often lives next to them. A tiger family breaks up when the young ones turn three years old. In the fourth year of life they become independent.
In natural conditions tigers They live on average ten to fifteen years, and in zoos longer. They grow throughout their lives and therefore reach old age. largest sizes. The Amur tiger has practically no enemies. Only a very large brown bear can overcome it.
Tiger very curious and, at every opportunity, watches a person, follows in his footsteps, sometimes quietly accompanies a forest traveler, without showing aggression. When meeting a person by chance, even closely, he calmly turns to the side, as if giving way to him. For the Amur tiger, humans are inviolable, which cannot be said about Bengal tigers, among which there are many man-eaters. For example, in Indian state In West Bengal, man-eating tigers killed more than 150 people between 1968 and 1972. In the Sundarbans, Bengali tigers kill an average of 75 people a year. Indian zoologists have established that among the Sundarban tigers, every fourth is an obvious man-eater, and the rest are indirect or accidental man-eaters. And yet tigers are protected in India. The reasons for the spread of man-eating tigers in India were intensive destruction of forests, inept hunting of animals: maimed tigers in anger they take revenge.
Due to constant persecution by humans and changes in habitat conditions, the number of tigers is continuously falling and their habitat is shrinking. According to some estimates, the number of these animals has decreased by 95% compared to the century before last. The total population of the species in nature is now estimated at 4000-6500 individuals. The largest number of tigers remains in India; a little less than one and a half thousand live in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, China and Burma. The population of the South China tiger is less than 30 animals, and the Amur tiger, according to the World Conservation Union, is about 450. Three separate subspecies have completely disappeared: from the islands of Java and Bali, as well as the Caspian tiger.
Tigers are listed in the international “Red Book”.
Color variations tigers
White Tiger
There is a known mutation in the tiger that leads to the appearance of individuals with a completely white color - Bengal tigers with black and brown stripes on white fur and blue eyes. This coloration is very rare among wild animals, but is relatively common in captive populations. The frequency of appearance of white tigers is 1 in 10,000 with normal coloring. White tigers breed excellently in captivity. The first mention of them dates back to 1951, when one of the hunters took from the lair he found tigers white tiger cub . Subsequently given tiger was crossed with a female of normal color, which gave birth to four tiger cubs normal color. Later white tiger was crossed with one of his white daughters, who gave birth to 3 tiger cub, 2 of which were white. All captive white tigers are descendants of the same individual. There are currently about 130 white tigers in zoos around the world. And although dark stripes are clearly visible on their skin, one of the misconceptions is that white tigers are albinos.
Golden Tiger
The so-called golden variety is the rarest color change caused by a recessive gene. The first mention of a meeting with golden tigers in wildlife date back to the beginning of the 20th century. Initially, the theory was put forward that the appearance of this type coloration gradually developed in a small group of tigers that lived in areas rich in clay soils, and unusual color served them as additional camouflage when hunting. The theory remains unproven. However, inbreeding from a small, isolated group of tigers could have influenced the appearance of this color type if one of the tigers carrying the recessive golden gene had bred with its own offspring, as happened in captivity.
On at the moment There are about 30 individuals in captivity with this type of color. Just like the whites tigers, all captive goldens tigers They are predominantly of Bengal descent, but are genetically "contaminated" by the genes of a part-white tiger named Tony, who is the common ancestor of almost all white tigers in North America. The assumption is that this coloration appeared by crossing Amur and bengal tigers, is a common misconception.
Other variations
Melanistic Bengal tigers with smoky or completely black fur have also been reported. There are also reports of tigers with a bluish-gray color ( maltese tiger). These types of coloration are caused by unstable mutations.
Hybrids
Tiger hybrids first began to appear in the 19th century in zoos, whose owners were interested in attracting visitors to their establishments and increasing profits. Now such hybrids are still appearing in private zoos in China. There are known hybrids between a lion and a tiger (usually the Amur and Bengal subspecies).
Liger is a cross between a lion and tigresses. Female ligers can give birth, which is unusual for hybrids. Individual ligers grow throughout their lives and by old age can reach sizes of up to 3 meters in length (excluding the tail). The extraordinary gigantism of the liger is explained by the fact that in the DNA of the lion and tigresses there is a gene responsible for growth. Tigers and lionesses lack this gene. In Russia, the ligress is kept in the Novosibirsk, and since 2007, in the Lipetsk zoo.
Tigrolev (tigon)- a cross between a tiger and a lioness. They combine the characteristics of both parents: they may have spots from the mother and stripes from the father. The tigon's mane, if it appears, will always be shorter than the mane of a lion. Tigons are typically smaller than lions and tigers and weigh around 150 kg. Male tigons are always sterile, while females are not.
Subspecies of tigers
In total, 9 subspecies of tiger have been identified, 3 of which have already been destroyed by humans.
Also known as Ussuri, Siberian, Manchurian or North Chinese.
Mainly lives in the territory of Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territory Russia, and in very small quantities in northeastern China and North Korea. The last two surveys (1996 and 2005) showed the presence of 480-520 individuals Amur tigers in nature, living in a single, undivided habitat, which makes this population the largest in the world.
The Amur tiger is one of the largest subspecies of the tiger. This subspecies is distinguished by thick, long (compared to other subspecies) and fluffy fur, with a duller red background and fewer stripes than other subspecies. The Amur tiger is also one of the most major representatives cat family: a tiger cub at the age of six months is comparable in size and weight to an adult leopard.
The nominate subspecies of the tiger, found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, inhabits a wide range of biotopes from rain forests to dry savannas and mangroves. Largest quantity Bengal tigers live within the boundaries of the Terai-Duar ecoregion.
According to the Indian government, the population of this subspecies is 3100-4500 animals, approximately 3000 of which live in India; but many Indian scientists question this information, believing that such figures are overestimated. According to other sources, the number of tigers in India may be less than 2,000 individuals, given that most counts were carried out by tracks, and this technique usually gives inflated figures.
Despite the fact that this subspecies of tiger is the most numerous, it is also endangered, mainly due to poaching and destruction of its natural habitat. All tigers in one of the reserves (Sariska) were completely destroyed by poachers. In 1972, India launched a large-scale conservation project known as Project Tiger, which aims to conserve this animal on Indian soil. Thanks to the activities implemented within the framework this project, the number of tigers increased from 1200 in the 70s to 3000 in the 90s; the project has been recognized as one of the most successful conservation programs in the world.
Male Bengal tigers weigh on average from 205 to 227 kilograms, females - on average 140-150 kilograms. Bengal tigers from northern India and Nepal are larger than tigers from the southern Indian subcontinent, with males weighing an average of 235 kg.
Also known as Corbet's tiger.
Lives in Cambodia southern China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. The number of individuals in its population varies according to different sources within the range of 1200-1800 animals, but an estimate closer to the lower value of this interval is considered more accurate. The largest population exists in Malaysia. Poaching in this country has been severely reduced to negligible levels, but the tiger population is under threat due to habitat fragmentation and inbreeding.
The Indochinese tiger has a darker coloration. The weight of males averages 150-190 kg, females - 110-140 kg.
It is found exclusively in the southern (Malaysian) part of the Malay Peninsula. This subspecies was isolated only in 2004 (previously the population was considered to belong to the Indochinese tiger) during a study conducted by a group of scientists led by Stephen O'Brien at the Laboratory of Genetic Diversity of the National Cancer Institute (Frederick, USA). Recent censuses have shown the presence of 600-800 tigers of this subspecies in nature, which makes it the third largest among other subspecies.
Found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The wild population is estimated at 400-500 animals, most of which live in the territory national parks and nature reserves.
Recent genetic studies have shown the presence of unique genetic markers in the genotype of the subspecies; this is a sign that on the basis of this subspecies, over time, a separate species of feline may arise (if the subspecies does not become extinct).
The main threat to the Sumatran tiger is destruction environment(Deforestation occurs even in strictly protected areas of Sumatra), but between 1998 and 2000, 66 tigers (20% of the population) were killed by poachers.
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies currently existing: the weight of adult males is 100-130 kilograms, females - 70-90 kilograms. The relatively small size of this subspecies is considered an adaptation to life in the tropical forests of Sumatra.
On February 3, 2007, a pregnant female Sumatran tiger was caught by local residents near the village of Rokan Hilir in Riau Province; The Nature Conservation Administration decided to transport her to the Bogor Safari Park on the island of Java.
Is a subspecies that is under greatest threat extinction, and most likely no longer exists in nature. In 1977, the Chinese government passed a law banning tiger hunting, but it was too late for the South China subspecies.
Apparently, the last South China tiger in the wild was shot in 1994. There are currently 59 South China tigers in captivity (all in China), but they are all descendants of just six animals. Thus, the genetic diversity of this subspecies is extremely low. Since 2008, the Chinese government has been taking a number of measures aimed at reintroducing South China tigers into the wild.
South China tiger is one of the smallest subspecies: the body length of males and females is 2.2-2.6 meters. Males weigh from 127 to 177 kg, females from 100 to 118 kg.
The historical range of this subspecies covered Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, southern Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Turkey.
The Caspian tiger was a relatively large subspecies: the heaviest weighed male weighed 240 kg. The background color was approximately the same as that of the Indian subspecies, but the stripes were noticeably narrower and more frequently spaced, darker gray or brown than black. The fur of the Caspian tiger was long (relative to other subspecies), especially in winter.
The Caspian tiger, along with the Bengal, was one of two subspecies used by the Romans in gladiatorial combat against gladiators and other animals such as Barbary lions.
According to modern molecular genetic data, this subspecies is almost identical to the Amur tiger.
Lived on the Indonesian island of Java. Apparently, it was destroyed in the 80s of the twentieth century due to hunting and destruction natural environment habitat. Extinction became probable starting in the 1950s, when the number of tigers in Java dropped to 25 individuals. The last Javan tiger was seen in the wild in 1979.
Have you ever seen white lions? We don't think so. And such lions exist!
Africa is home to lions with snow-white fur that come from the Timbavati region in the south of the continent. The first time a person saw a white lion was at the beginning of the 20th century, and half a century later the book “White Lions of Timbavati” was published, thanks to which the whole world learned about the unusual predators.
White lions live mainly in southern Africa. Many lions call their home National Park Kruger in South Africa, in which there is vegetation familiar to them, and weather conditions close to ideal. Some of the lions live in the Sanbona Nature Reserve in the western part of South Africa. Here the animals are not afraid of poachers; they are fed and protected from disease.
White lions can have blue or beige eyes, and their coat color varies from pure white to deep beige. Babies are born with white fur, but later it darkens.
There are very few white lions left in the world - about 300 individuals, and scientists do not yet know how to restore their population in the wild. Many biologists believe that white lions cannot survive in the wild because their fur prevents them from hiding and tracking down prey.
About 40 years ago there were only 3 white lions left in the world. Miraculously, they managed to breed offspring and increase the number of lions to 300. Since the 1970s, all white lions have lived in nature reserves.
Africans believe that white lions are messengers of God and that they need to be protected and loved. Unfortunately, white lions are not protected by law; they can be killed and remain unpunished. We hope that the population of these beautiful animals will recover, and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be able to see white lions in the zoo.
If you love animals, then come to the store
The golden tiger is one of the most beautiful and unusual representatives cat family. In the wild, such a predator belongs to the Bengal, and in captivity - mainly to the Amur subspecies. He received his unusual color thanks to a unique genetic combination.
The golden tiger differs from its ordinary counterparts in the absence of black stripes, softer and fluffier fur and a slightly larger body size.
Golden tiger in the wild
The homeland of Bengal tigers is India, and it was here, around 1900, that the first meeting with a golden representative of this species was recorded. Stories about this event are passed on from mouth to mouth, but since it was not photographed, it is impossible to verify its veracity.
At the same time, it is possible that intrafamily crossing in a small isolated population could lead to a mutation that led to the emergence of the “golden” gene. Golden Bengal tigers ceased to be found in the wild in the first half of the 20th century after active hunting began for them.
The first golden one in captivity Bengal tiger was born in 1983 at the Florida Zoo from ordinary orange parents.
Golden Tiger Ancestor
Golden tigers live in zoos in United Arab Emirates, USA, UK, Germany, Denmark and Australia. They all have one ancestor - a white Amur tiger named Bim, the son of the partially white Tony (the ancestor of all white tigers North America). Since Bim belongs to the Amur species, he has nothing in common with wild golden tigers from India.
As a result of intra-family crossing, Bim got tiger cubs of white, partly white and regular orange. But one tiger cub turned out to be non-standard, without black pigmentation on the stripes. This baby grew up, and his descendants inherited his father’s unusual color and his recessive gene.
In the litter of golden tigers, there are also the usual orange and white individuals. From a genetic point of view, golden raptors are considered normal and do not suffer from any hereditary diseases.
This feature has made them a valuable acquisition for zoos seeking to expand their collections to include rare animals. Active exchange leads to the fact that the recessive gene is becoming more widespread, and soon residents of all countries of the world may have a chance to see the golden beauty.
Niramin - Apr 9th, 2018
Golden Tiger is not a separate species. The appearance of such predators in the wild is the result of inbreeding in an isolated population of Bengal tigers. Already in the first half of the twentieth century, golden tigers ceased to be found in natural environment their residence due to active hunting for these predators. Therefore, golden tigers live mainly in captivity. It was in captivity, as a result of a gene mutation in ordinary orange tigers living at the Florida Zoo, that the first tiger with an unusual golden color was born in 1983.
At first glance, the golden tiger looks like its ordinary relatives - Bengal or Amur tigers. However, thanks to a peculiar genetic combination, the golden tiger differs from similar big cats more impressive in size. In addition, these rare animals have softer and silkier fur. Distinctive feature Golden tigers are characterized by the absence of black stripes characteristic of other representatives of these predators. The fur of these unusual big cats is decorated with stripes of darker orange shades, and the white areas of the fur occupy a significant more space on the body than in ordinary tigers. These beauties with an unusual color also inherit problems related to the pelvic spine.
These carnivorous predators feed in the same way as their other relatives - Bengal tigers. Their diet is dominated by fairly large animals: elephants, buffalos, wild goats, wild boars, as well as smaller animals: hares, foxes and monkeys. Big cat can track and pursue its prey for a long time until it catches an opportune moment to attack and quickly deal with its victim. It is worth noting that there is no special time for hunting for a tiger. His sensitive hearing and keen vision allow him to smell prey in any situation. These animals swim excellently and at the same time feast on fish.
The peculiar color and health problems do not allow golden tigers to survive in the wild, which explains their negligible number in the environment familiar to these cats. However, golden tigers have gained popularity among people. Therefore, in many zoos around the world they strive to obtain golden tiger cubs.
See a selection of photos of the Golden Tiger:
Photo: Golden tiger ready to attack.
Video: Golden Tiger Drinking
Video: Golden Tiger, Tianxia, just rescued from the circus
Video: Tianxia the Golden Tiger enjoying his Sunday Funday
The tiger is the largest and most formidable representative cat family. There are legends about the fierce temper of the predator; even lions are inferior to its cruelty and pressure. The vibes of wild, uncontrollable power emanating from the large and majestic body of the tiger cause unmotivated anxiety and panic fear among the inhabitants of the forest long before the beast appears within sight. A person who is close to an approaching predator experiences the same intense emotions.
Myths and legends
In the mythology of many peoples of the world, the tiger is the owner of the forest, the king of animals, the owner of magical qualities and powerful energy. In ancient China, the predator was considered a threat to demons and a protector from disease; in Korea, it was known as the spirit of caves and mountains.
The Nivkhs, living in Japan and Russia, considered the beast to be a special breed of “human tigers.” When meeting him, it was necessary to bow and make a welcoming speech, but it was strictly forbidden to injure or kill the tiger. Many Indian tribes considered and still consider the animal to be their ancestor, who stood at the origins of the family.
The hunters of Transbaikalia called the tiger “fierce” and avoided the paths trodden by it. If by chance we came across the trail of an animal walking forward, we tried not to leave it, but to move with our backs already in reverse direction while making frequent bows. This way, in their opinion, it was possible to avoid the tiger’s wrath and inevitable disaster. Kyrgyz shamans, in the process of ritual actions, turn to the kind white tiger for help.
In Chinese Buddhism, the beast represents anger. For Indians, it is a symbol of military valor. According to Japanese tradition, the predator in the bamboo grove symbolizes human evil.
In Eastern medicine, the tiger was considered as a source of valuable material for the manufacture of medicinal potions. To cure infertility, women were recommended to eat the meat of a predator or jump over its skin. Chinese healers made antipyretics and aphrodisiacs from various parts of the animal’s body.
Despite all sorts of prohibitions, products made from tiger organs are in demand and are sold on illegal markets.
Carefully! Cannibals!
Collisions between an animal and an unarmed person end in bloodshed and a dramatic ending. Man-eating tigers pose a particular danger. Usually these are sick or old individuals who are not capable of attacking a stronger enemy. They purposefully hunt people, set up ambushes near rural roads, and always attack from behind. Quite healthy individuals can become cannibals. Animals quickly get used to the taste of human meat and are no longer able to deny themselves this pleasure.
To prevent a tiger attack, residents of dangerous areas resort to various tricks and tricks. One of these tricks is a mask in the form of a face with big eyes, worn on the back of the head. The “look” of the mask scares away the predator and it does not risk attacking, but retreats back into the jungle.
Many are sad known facts tigers once again remind us of the bloody and insidious nature of the predator. Some of the evidence, such as serial murders people by a man-eating tigress in the Indian district of Nainital (1925 - 1930) are particularly cruel. According to confirmed data, the beast managed to kill 64 people.
Most bloodthirsty predator The Champawat tigress is considered to be from the 20th century. According to researchers, she is responsible for 436 murders, of which 200 people were killed in Nepal and 236 in the Kumaon region. The animal hunted people for several years. WITH dangerous predator Even the Nepalese army could not cope - it always managed to evade persecution. point in this tragic story directed by the famous hunter of cannibalistic predators Jim Corbett. He covered the seasoned beast in 1911.
The mango forests of Sundraban, Uttar Pradesh state in India, still represent mortal danger for a person. According to local scientists, every fourth tiger living in these regions is a potential man-eater.
Features of hunting
For many centuries, the tiger has been a coveted trophy. Hunting for it, regardless of the region of its habitat, was widespread, becoming more of an entertainment and sporting pleasure than a way of protecting against attacks by a predator.
In ancient Korea, animal hunters were highly revered and occupied a very high status in society. Their clothing was different from that of their fellow tribesmen, consisting of a blue turban, a jacket of the same color and an unusual necklace. The daily diet of trappers necessarily included the meat of a killed animal.
Hunting tigers in Central Asia engaged in by the great conqueror Alexander the Great. For her he used sharpened in a special way dart.
The English colonialists entertained themselves with this dangerous and cruel activity. They used local residents as beaters. They themselves moved on elephants or followed the victim on foot. The skins of killed animals became carpets or stuffed animals in the houses of the English aristocracy, and the meat became a delicacy during feasts.
History of the species
Since 1929, the animal belongs to the genus Panthera (panther). The Latin name of the species is Panthera tigris, where "tigris" translated into Russian means fast or spicy. The first information about the predator can be found in the works of the physician and naturalist Carl Linnaeus; zoologist George Robert Gray also studied this species and contributed to scientific research naturalist Nikolai Severtsov.
Fossils wild tigers, dating back to the Pleistocene period, were found on the island of Java, northern China, Sumatra, Siberia, and India. According to molecular genetic studies, the predator is directly related to the genus Panthera and separated from the common ancestral branch more than two million years ago.
At the same time saber tooth tiger, despite its name, according to DNA results it has no relation to living tigers.
Distribution and population status
Before living space The predator captured vast territories: from Indonesia to Transcaucasia and Central Asia, from the Far East to Iran. At the beginning of the 20th century, up to 100 thousand animals lived on Earth, 40 thousand of which lived in India.
The growing invasion of civilization in virgin nature and poaching contributed to the catastrophic decline of the species. Now the tiger's habitat is limited to several regions of Asia, divided into separate populations, total number which does not exceed 5 thousand.
On the islands of Bali and Java, in Transcaucasia and Central Asia, animals disappeared in the second half of the last century. In Korea and Manchuria, from 20 to 30 individuals have survived, on Far East There are up to 550 predators; in Sumatra there are no more than 500 of them. The largest number of tigers remain in Indochina and India - about 3.5 thousand.
Security measures
The predator is under international security and is listed in the Red Book. Hunting for it is prohibited. To preserve the species and maintain the population size, specialized protected areas are created.
In the Far East there are several state-protected zones - Sikhote-Alinsky, Lazovsky and Ussuriysky national parks, the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve. To observe tigers, scientists most often use camera traps, the tracking method, GPS tracking, and radio tracking.
Appearance
The tiger cat is massive in appearance, but incredibly flexible and agile animal.
- Its weight exceeds all conceivable limits and is the most impressive among the representatives of the cat family. The average-sized tiger weighs 190 - 250 kg. A large individual can reach a body weight of up to 300 - 320 kg.
- An adult animal has a length excluding the tail of the order three meters, height at withers up to 1.2 meters.
- The front legs are more powerful and tall than the hind legs. The feet are very wide, the claws are retractable. The hind paw has only four toes, the front paw has five toes.
- The massive, rounded head of the tiger is set on a wide, powerful neck. The muzzle is decorated with sideburns on both sides.
- Eyes yellow with round pupils.
- The forehead is convex.
- The nose is large, the bridge of the nose is wide.
- The jaw is strong, the length of the fangs is up to 8 cm.
- The ears are small, without tufts.
Thanks to its color, the tiger looks very colorful in life and in photos. The southern subspecies have a short, sparse and quite tough coat. Northern individuals have a fluffy skin with long, medium-hard hair. The striped tiger may have a rusty brown or rusty red base color. Throat, belly and paws in inside white-gray color. There are light spots on the face and ears.
The stripes on the coat are located uniquely in each individual. The predator has up to 100 such stripes. The color palette includes all shades of brown and black, depending on the subspecies. In the neck and on the body they are located in the transverse direction, reaching the belly, where they end with sharp ends, like a bayonet.
On the front half of the body, the stripes are rare, their frequency increases towards the beginning of the tail. In the pelvic area, the stripes go down halfway to the hips. The tiger's tail has up to ten transverse stripes and a black spot at the very end.
Color options
- The white tiger is a successful result of a gene mutation, occurring once in 10 thousand individuals. In life and in the photo, the white tiger looks amazingly beautiful - absolutely sparkling in the sun white fur, heavenly purity Blue eyes, clearly defined black-brown stripes. The first such tiger cub was taken from its mother by a trapper in 1951. Since then, scientists have been breeding them in captivity, and all individuals are descendants of the found animal. Tigers with unusual coloring They reproduce well and constantly replenish their mini-population.
- The golden tiger owes its color to a recessive gene responsible for its unusual coat color. The history of the appearance of the animal goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, it was then that the first animal with this color was discovered. At that time, many theories were put forward in this regard, but none of them were confirmed. An explanation for this phenomenon was found after a genetic study, as a result of which a recessive gene was found. There are 30 golden-colored individuals in zoos around the world, and almost all of them are the result of crossing adults with their offspring.
- The population contains completely black tigers and animals with a bluish-gray color.
Habitat and lifestyle
The landscapes where these animals live are very diverse. The predator adapts well to any climate and terrain, be it mangroves or bamboo thickets, tropical forests, bare rocks, harsh Siberian taiga or dry savanna with sparse vegetation. Found at altitudes up to 3 thousand meters.
The animal tiger is a loner by nature. During the day it sleeps in the den, and in the evening it goes in search of prey. Hiking sometimes lasts until the morning.
At the age of a tiger cub, he deftly and quickly climbs trees; an adult predator does not climb trees - his weight does not allow him. He loves and knows how to swim, is not afraid of severe frosts, and tolerates hot weather well. Usually the tiger is silent. It makes dull growling sounds only during the mating season, at the moment of rage and when it attacks the victim.
Wherever a tiger lives, its personal territory is saturated with an individual scent. It abundantly irrigates rocks, bushes, and tree trunks with urine. Leaves urine marks on vertical surfaces. To remind himself even more, he rubs his back against the trees, scratches the bark, loosens the snow or earth.
The size of hunting grounds depends on the region inhabited, the amount of food available and gender. Males occupy large areas– from 60 to 100 km 2. In search of prey, they cover from 9 to 41 km per day. Females are limited to more modest boundaries; the area of their personal territory does not exceed 20 km 2. The areas of a male and several females can intersect with each other. Animals always move along the same paths.
In relation to other males he behaves aggressively, when he sees them he becomes nervous. threatening pose and makes no less threatening sounds. If mutual understanding is not reached, he enters into a brutal, bloody battle to the bitter end. The tiger is more favorable towards females; it can live with them in the same territory and share its prey.
Hunting and food
The predator hunts alone. It waits for prey near trails or stalks. The choice of hunting method depends on the time of year. IN summer time In search of prey, it follows the trail, and in winter it hunts near trails. For an ambush he chooses the leeward side. Sneaks up on the victim quietly and unnoticed.
The tiger attacks with lightning speed, making incredible leaps (up to 10 meters). The victim is grabbed by the throat and breaks her neck, sometimes simply strangled. It can eat up to 30 kg of meat per day. Near large production stays for several days.
The daily diet includes all the game that lives in the same region. As a rule, these are ungulates, hares, birds, and monkeys. Loves nuts and fruits, eats grass.
Reproduction and care of offspring
The mating season occurs in December - January and is accompanied by stormy courtship. Males find a female ready for fertilization by the smell of marks left by the chosen one. Other males, if they appear on the tiger’s path, meet with a decisive rebuff and are driven away.
The female's estrus lasts several days and repeats after some time if pregnancy has not occurred. Animals mate several times a day. The process is accompanied by a loud, heartbreaking roar.
The female is ready to have offspring when she reaches three or four summer age, but not more often than once every two to three years. Pregnancy lasts on average three months (98 - 112 days). Before the birth of her babies, the tigress sets up a warm lair in remote and safe places- in windbreaks, distant caves, dense mangroves, rock crevices. The male is not allowed to the den, as he has a ferocious disposition and may well kill newborn tiger cubs; he does not participate in the upbringing of his offspring.
The litter appears in late March - early April and consists of two, three or four kittens. Cubs are born blind, have a significant weight (1.3 to 1.5 kg), and require constant maternal care. Eyes open one week after birth.
They eat for up to one and a half months breast milk. Upon reaching two months, they can leave the den and accompany their mother on short trips. The female gradually accustoms them to meat food, teaches all the intricacies of hunting, serves as a reliable support and protection during the entire period of being together.
By the age of two, young tigers are ready to live independently. Young females strive to establish their own den near their mother's hunting grounds. Males have to go in search of new, unoccupied territories. Often they come across old predators on their way, and here they cannot do without a fight that is fatal for one of the individuals.
Females reach sexual maturity at three to four years, males at four to five years.
The lifespan of animals in natural conditions does not exceed 26 years.
Life in captivity
They live in many zoos around the world and reproduce well. In some US states, according to expert estimates, 12 thousand predators are kept as pets. They are tamed and trainable, but keeping them outside an enclosure is very dangerous. With age, the animal becomes aggressive and presents real threat for life. You can find out how much a tiger costs in a specialized nursery.Hybrids
The desire for profit by owners of private zoos has led to the emergence of tiger hybrids. The most famous of them are the tiger lion and the liger.
- The tiger lion was the result of crossing a male tiger and a female lion. The animal has a short mane, stripes and spots on the body. Its weight does not exceed 150 kg. Females can give birth, males are sterile.
- The liger is an unusual hybrid that grows throughout its life. In old age, its body reaches three meters in length. The liger's mother is a tigress, and his father is a male lion. Female ligers can interbreed with individuals of the original species.
Subspecies
This species has nine subspecies, three of which are completely exterminated by poachers.
- lives in the Ussuri taiga, owns huge hunting grounds (up to 800 km 2). This is the largest tiger known to science. No more than 500 individuals of this subspecies survive in the wild. The weight of a tiger can reach 320 kg, body length - 2.5 meters. The animal has a thick, long wool and a thick layer of belly fat. It is distinguished by a dull color and a smaller number of stripes than its relatives. The beast is depicted on the coat of arms of the Primorsky Territory.
- - endemic to the island of Bali. The last individual was exterminated by poachers in 1937. The animals had short, hard fur orange tint And small quantity black stripes. Locals They didn’t like the animal and considered it a dark and destructive force.
- – is part of the largest population (3 - 4.5 thousand individuals). Lives in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan. In some countries it is considered the national animal. The average weight of females is about 150 kg, males - 230 kg. It has a light orange or yellow color, brown stripes. The menacing roar of the predator can be heard at a distance of three kilometers. This subspecies has become notorious due to numerous attacks on people.
- lived in the southern territory of Russia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Armenia, Turkey. Another name for the subspecies is the Caspian tiger. The predator was exterminated in the sixties of the last century. He had a bright color with dark, numerous stripes and long, thick hair. The largest tiger weighed 240 kg.
- It is distinguished by its dark color and lives on the Indochina Peninsula. The weight of adult males reaches 190 kg, females – 140 kg. The population size is about 1.8 thousand individuals. Animal organs are illegally used by Eastern healers.
- - one of the smallest subspecies. The weight of females does not exceed 120 kg, males 180 kg. The body length of animals is in the range of 2.3 – 2.6 meters. These animals most likely no longer exist in the wild. The South China tiger is kept in zoos in China, where only 59 individuals live.
- chose the Malacca Peninsula as his place of residence. It was classified as a separate subspecies only in 2004. The population numbers almost 800 individuals. The animal is depicted on the coat of arms of Malaysia.
- lives on the island of Sumatra. The number of subspecies is 400 - 500 individuals. The animal is relatively small in size compared to the Indian and Amur subspecies. The weight of males does not exceed 130 kg, females - 90 kg. The beast is very aggressive and often attacks people.
- - endemic to the island of Java. The beast was completely destroyed in 79 of the last century. The animal had a small weight category - the minimum weight of a female reached 75 kg, a male - 100 kg.