Bengal Tiger
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/8/14080449/1617537.jpg?237)
Habitat
The Bengal tiger is native to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Tigers live in a few different types of habitats such as tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, evergreen forests, grasslands, savannahs, and rocky areas. They sleep in a den which usually is a crevice, cave, dense grass or even in the hollow of a large tree.
The tiger’s environment in and outside the ZOO is far different from each other. In the ZOO the tiger has its food provided and any medical attention is given if required. Although this treatment sounds very nice, through my own observations the animal looked quite stressed and bored as it was pacing around and around the enclosure continuously. In the wild the tiger has much more responsibility and freedom. It is a natural hunter and in captivity the tiger cannot practice this instinct. The lifespan for a tiger is much higher in the captivity rather than in the wild. It is 20-26 years (Captivity) compared to 10-15 years (Wild). This is because the tiger is constantly being checked up medically, given any vaccinations and is also fed on a daily basis.
The Bengal tiger is native to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Tigers live in a few different types of habitats such as tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, evergreen forests, grasslands, savannahs, and rocky areas. They sleep in a den which usually is a crevice, cave, dense grass or even in the hollow of a large tree.
The tiger’s environment in and outside the ZOO is far different from each other. In the ZOO the tiger has its food provided and any medical attention is given if required. Although this treatment sounds very nice, through my own observations the animal looked quite stressed and bored as it was pacing around and around the enclosure continuously. In the wild the tiger has much more responsibility and freedom. It is a natural hunter and in captivity the tiger cannot practice this instinct. The lifespan for a tiger is much higher in the captivity rather than in the wild. It is 20-26 years (Captivity) compared to 10-15 years (Wild). This is because the tiger is constantly being checked up medically, given any vaccinations and is also fed on a daily basis.
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/8/14080449/7793537.jpg?250)
Adaptations
Structural:
Adult male Bengal tigers weigh about 220 kg and measure about 2.9 m in length. Females are slightly smaller with an average weight of 140 kg and 2.5 m in length.
Legs, Feet & Claws
The hind legs of the tiger are longer than their front legs. This allows them to leap forward distances up to 10 meters. Tigers also have large padded feet that enable them to silently stalk prey in the Asian jungles. Each paw has four claws and one specialised claw called a dewclaw which are like thumbs and are used for grasping prey and climbing. The claws of the tiger are up to 10 centimeters in length and are used to grasp and hold onto prey.
Mouth and Tongue
Tigers have the largest canines of all big cat species ranging in size from 6.4 to 7.6 centimeters in length. The canines have pressure-sensing nerves that enable the tiger to identify the location needed to sever the neck of its prey. The tiger's tongue is covered with many small, sharp, rear-facing projections called papillae. This gives the tongue a rough, rasping texture and is designed to help strip feathers, fur and meat from prey.
Tail
A tiger's tail is about one meter in length and is used for balance when making sharp turns in pursuit of prey.
Colouration and Markings
The Bengal tiger has a light yellow-orange to deep reddish-orange background coloration. They also have distinctive stripes located on both their fur coat and skin. These stripes are usually a brown/ grey/ black colour. They are the only large cat species to have Stripes. The fur of the tiger provides camouflage, warmth and protection for them.
Physiological:
Fur Coat
The fur density is dependent on the area and climate in which the animal lives. So, in cooler, wetter climates, the tigers develop a thicker, longer coat. In warmer areas, the coat of the tiger is a lot thinner and shorter. The tiger's striped coat helps them blend in well with the sunlight filtering through the treetops to the jungle floor. The camouflage is enhanced because the striping also helps break up their body shape, making them difficult to detect for unsuspecting prey.
Behavioural:
Tigers are territorial and usually solitary in nature. The only time they interact is for mating purposes and occasionally to share their kill. Males have larger territories than females. An adult male's territory will usually overlap several females' territories. Although the female’s territory is smaller, they only focus on vital recourses that are required to rear young. The number of the species in a given area can cause aggression amongst adult male tigers. They can also become aggressive when competing to take control of a territory or if they have mating opportunities.
Tigers, unlike many other cat species enter water to cool themselves and in the pursuit of prey. They are powerful swimmers and are capable of crossing lakes and rivers.
Structural:
Adult male Bengal tigers weigh about 220 kg and measure about 2.9 m in length. Females are slightly smaller with an average weight of 140 kg and 2.5 m in length.
Legs, Feet & Claws
The hind legs of the tiger are longer than their front legs. This allows them to leap forward distances up to 10 meters. Tigers also have large padded feet that enable them to silently stalk prey in the Asian jungles. Each paw has four claws and one specialised claw called a dewclaw which are like thumbs and are used for grasping prey and climbing. The claws of the tiger are up to 10 centimeters in length and are used to grasp and hold onto prey.
Mouth and Tongue
Tigers have the largest canines of all big cat species ranging in size from 6.4 to 7.6 centimeters in length. The canines have pressure-sensing nerves that enable the tiger to identify the location needed to sever the neck of its prey. The tiger's tongue is covered with many small, sharp, rear-facing projections called papillae. This gives the tongue a rough, rasping texture and is designed to help strip feathers, fur and meat from prey.
Tail
A tiger's tail is about one meter in length and is used for balance when making sharp turns in pursuit of prey.
Colouration and Markings
The Bengal tiger has a light yellow-orange to deep reddish-orange background coloration. They also have distinctive stripes located on both their fur coat and skin. These stripes are usually a brown/ grey/ black colour. They are the only large cat species to have Stripes. The fur of the tiger provides camouflage, warmth and protection for them.
Physiological:
Fur Coat
The fur density is dependent on the area and climate in which the animal lives. So, in cooler, wetter climates, the tigers develop a thicker, longer coat. In warmer areas, the coat of the tiger is a lot thinner and shorter. The tiger's striped coat helps them blend in well with the sunlight filtering through the treetops to the jungle floor. The camouflage is enhanced because the striping also helps break up their body shape, making them difficult to detect for unsuspecting prey.
Behavioural:
Tigers are territorial and usually solitary in nature. The only time they interact is for mating purposes and occasionally to share their kill. Males have larger territories than females. An adult male's territory will usually overlap several females' territories. Although the female’s territory is smaller, they only focus on vital recourses that are required to rear young. The number of the species in a given area can cause aggression amongst adult male tigers. They can also become aggressive when competing to take control of a territory or if they have mating opportunities.
Tigers, unlike many other cat species enter water to cool themselves and in the pursuit of prey. They are powerful swimmers and are capable of crossing lakes and rivers.
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/8/14080449/1431007464.png)
Reproductive:
In tigers females reach sexual maturity around 3 to 4 years of age and males mature at about 4 to 5 years of age. A female tiger may enter oestrus every three to nine weeks. Females advertise their readiness to mate a few days before she enters oestrus. She will scent-mark her range more frequently with a distinctive smelling urine. During oestrus, the female may frequently vocalise throughout the day to attract a male. The tiger's gestation period is about three and half months. Each litter may have up to seven cubs, but the average is three.
Issues
Interaction with other animal species:
Tigers coexist with other predators such as leopards, Asiatic wild dogs, brown bears and wolves throughout most of their range. Usually there is little interaction between these species especially since tigers are mostly nocturnal (active at night) and the other species are mainly diurnal (active during the day).
The main threats to tiger populations today are habitat loss/destruction and poaching. The rapidly growing human population has reduced the area of the tiger habitats. The human population in India alone has increased by nearly 50% since 1973 with a total population in 1995 estimated to be about 931 million. Tiger habitats, such as forests and grasslands, are being converted for agricultural needs. Tigers need large areas of suitable habitat to maintain healthy breeding populations. Tigers are poached for two main reasons: their threat to wildlife and to make poachers money. Tigers may prey upon agricultural animals and have been illegally shot or poisoned by baited carcasses. However, tigers are mainly poached for their bones and other body parts, which are in great demand for traditional Chinese medicines.
What would happen to the ecosystem if this animal became extinct?
The tiger is at the top of the food chain in all the ecosystems it lives in. It keeps populations of deer, wild bore, sambar and gaur from excessively overpopulating. Without the tiger to control them these prey species would expand. This would cause any vegetation to destroyed (eaten) as this is all of the prey animal’s main diet. This will cause insects and small animals to also become extinct, as they will not have any place to live.
In tigers females reach sexual maturity around 3 to 4 years of age and males mature at about 4 to 5 years of age. A female tiger may enter oestrus every three to nine weeks. Females advertise their readiness to mate a few days before she enters oestrus. She will scent-mark her range more frequently with a distinctive smelling urine. During oestrus, the female may frequently vocalise throughout the day to attract a male. The tiger's gestation period is about three and half months. Each litter may have up to seven cubs, but the average is three.
Issues
Interaction with other animal species:
Tigers coexist with other predators such as leopards, Asiatic wild dogs, brown bears and wolves throughout most of their range. Usually there is little interaction between these species especially since tigers are mostly nocturnal (active at night) and the other species are mainly diurnal (active during the day).
The main threats to tiger populations today are habitat loss/destruction and poaching. The rapidly growing human population has reduced the area of the tiger habitats. The human population in India alone has increased by nearly 50% since 1973 with a total population in 1995 estimated to be about 931 million. Tiger habitats, such as forests and grasslands, are being converted for agricultural needs. Tigers need large areas of suitable habitat to maintain healthy breeding populations. Tigers are poached for two main reasons: their threat to wildlife and to make poachers money. Tigers may prey upon agricultural animals and have been illegally shot or poisoned by baited carcasses. However, tigers are mainly poached for their bones and other body parts, which are in great demand for traditional Chinese medicines.
What would happen to the ecosystem if this animal became extinct?
The tiger is at the top of the food chain in all the ecosystems it lives in. It keeps populations of deer, wild bore, sambar and gaur from excessively overpopulating. Without the tiger to control them these prey species would expand. This would cause any vegetation to destroyed (eaten) as this is all of the prey animal’s main diet. This will cause insects and small animals to also become extinct, as they will not have any place to live.
By Mitchell Kirkman M10.2