Tiger Indonesian

Several subspecies are known - P.t.altaica (Siberian tiger), P.t.sumatrae (Sumatran tiger), P.t.amoyensis (Amoy tiger), P.t.tigris (Bengal tiger), P.t. corbetti (Indochinese tiger). The largest subspecies is the Siberian tiger, weighing up to 300 kg. The smallest subspecies is the Sumatran tiger, weighing only 100 kg. The several subspecies vary in their body size, coat color and markings, with the archetypal tiger exhibiting a reddish-orange to yellowish coat, and white belly and black markings. Tigers are well suited to hunting larger prey. Their claws are retractable and quite sharp.

Panthera tigris is classified as a critically endangered species on the 2002 IUCN Red List. The Bali, Javan, and Sumatran tiger are extinct.

Once numerous in Asia, now tigers are extant only in scattered locales from Vietnam to India. Separate populations are also seen in the Far East of Russia, China and Sumatra. Tigers can adapt to various ecosystems, including mangrove swamps, tall grass jungles, and coniferous woodlands. Tigers need dense plant cover, access to water and adequate large prey.

Tigers are territorial creatures, spending much of their lives in solitary. They stalk and ambush their prey, taking advantage of their coat stripes to camouflage their presence in the fluctuating light of the forest floor. Tigers hunt mainly at night, focusing on wild pigs and deer. They are opportunistic feeders, and will eat other dead animals. Tigers easily go into water, are excellent swimmers, and sometimes lie partly submerged in lakes and creeks.

Territorial behavior in tigers is accomplished by marking the edge of their range with urine and scrapes. Males will often mate with several females. Mating is done throughout the year. After a 4 month gestation period, the female gives birth to a litter of 2-3 cubs. After 15 months, the cubs are weaned away from the mother, left to determine their own territory.

With the largest number of surviving tigers put at 4,500, India's Bengal tigers nonetheless are under severe pressure. India has established several contiguous sections of habitat conducive to tigers, but still they are under threat due to their risk to local livestock and legendary reputation as a man-eater. India established Project Tiger in 1973 with the intent of conserving its tiger population. For instance, the Ranthambor Foundation is actively promoting tiger survival. With ever increasing human pressure on the land, tigers remain increasingly threatened. What typically happens is the following sequence of events: habitat loss occurs as humans develop land, tiger populations become isolated in the remaining fragments of the original wilderness, and the resulting isolation causes a final die out.

Interesting Fact

Tiger body parts are in demand as ingredients in Traditional Asian Medicines in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries. All body parts from a dead tiger are used. For example, tiger nostrils are believed to protect against bullets. Tiger bones are used to produce medicinal powders and wines that are believed to cure rheumatism. The tiger penis is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac.