We’re often clouded by many misconceptions with other large cat species,
but hopefully, you’ll learn something about them through this blog where I’ve listed some facts about tigers.
Spoiler alert - you would be knowing some of the facts already but what the hell!
Amazing Facts That You Probably Didn’t Know About Tigers
Tigers are often looked as being one of the most beautiful yet ferocious animals and perhaps this is a sole driving factor that makes them even more interesting creatures.
But sadly, they have come to a verge of being categorized as endangered, thanks to the human sloppiness and prudence.
As a wildlife lover with keen interest on large cats, I enjoy visiting wildlife sanctuaries but the question remains, how well do I or we know about this exotic animal?
Tigers are the world’s largest wild cats as they measure up to 6ft in length
Today, there are five subspecies of tiger: Bengal, South China, Indochinese, Sumatran and Siberian.
Sadly, three subspecies of tiger have become extinct – Caspian, Bali and Javan.
Tigers can leap distances of up to 10m (33 feet), and jump up to 5m (16 feet) vertically.
Their muscular legs are so powerful that they can remain standing even when dead.
They eat only meat, and that is why they are called carnivores.
They mainly hunt and eat the flesh of animals like buffalo, deer and wild pigs.
A tiger’s jaw usually has 30 teeth that are designed primarily for tearing flesh.
Tigers do not live in groups, except for the tigress with her cubs.
They usually roam across vast areas, which are known as their “home ranges.”
The size of their home range depends on the availability of food.
Tigers do not patrol.
They mark their domain with their feces and urine that has a distinctive smell to let other tigers know that the space has been taken.
Tigers use their tail to communicate with each other. If a tiger is relaxed, the tail hangs loose.
When they are aggressive, they move their tail rapidly from one side to another.
Unlike other animals, tigers first stalk their prey — smell and follow them ― until they are close enough to pounce upon.
Tiger cubs leave their mothers at two years of age to find a domain of their own.
They are also illegally hunted for their fur and body parts used for preparing traditional medicines.
Less than a hundred years ago, about 100,000 tigers were found all over Asia.
According to the WWF estimates, there are only 3,400 today due to hunting and poaching by humans.
Of the 3,400 surviving, only 1,000 are breeding tigers which makes it clear that they are in danger of extinction.
One primary reason for the dwindling population of tigers is habitat loss because of cutting down of trees and forests.
White spots on the backs of their ears are sometimes thought to function as "eyes" to ward off potential attackers from the rear.
Another theory is that they help tiger cubs follow their mothers through tall grass.
An adult tiger can consume up to 88 pounds of meat in one meal and will often stay with its kill or bury it to return and dine over a period of days.
It may not kill again for four or five days.
Female tigers are super moms. After a gestation period of a little more than three months, they give birth (on average) to two to three blind and helpless cubs.
The female is the sole provider for them until they reach independence at two years of age.
Tigers are a keystone species. They're integral to the health of the ecosystems in which they live. As apex predators, they keep prey species under control.
This protects the vegetation which in turn maintains the integrity of streams, forests
and croplands that provide people around the world with clean air, water, food and financial benefits.
When we protect tigers, we protect ourselves.
Tigers have antiseptic saliva. They lick their wounds to disinfect them.
These fierce felines have walked the earth for a long time.
Fossil remains of tigers found in parts of China are believed to be 2 million years old.
A punch from a Tiger may kill you
Leaving aside Tigers enormous body size, just look at their front-hands/legs,
if you have a pet Tiger and a brutal enemy, you might as well send them for a fist fight.
Kidding, you cannot have a pet tiger, it illegal!
It is said that one swipe from a Tiger’s front hand is enough to kill a person or an animal, or at least break one’s bones.
Tigers are nocturnal animals
It is not necessarily true that all Tigers are nocturnal but yes, they do prefer engaging in most of their hunting activities at night.
The reason behind this is that Tigers prefer avoiding human conflict during daylight and also patrol around their territory at night.
Tigers can live up to 25 years
The life expectancy of Tigers is between 10-15 years in the wild but up to 22 years in captivity.
However, most die before the age of 20, like for instance, the death of a nineteen-year-old Machli in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India.
The oldest living Tiger so far was 25-year-old Flavel, a circus-rescued, sheltered in a zoo in Tampa, Florida.
Tigers love to swim and play in the water
Unlike the domestic cats, its larger version enjoy spending time in the water and they love to swim for hours.
Since cubs, female Tigers encourage or help learn the art of hunting, they even have the ability to kill in the water.
And as adults, it is said that they can swim for several kilometres and even have reported one to swim for 30 km in just a day.
Tigers can mate with other big cats
Tigers can also mates with other big cats, for example, if a male Tiger mates with female Lion, the hybrid born animal is known as Tigon.
Liger are the largest cat species and can grow bigger than Tigon, Liger is a mix breed of male Lion and female Tiger.
The height of a Liger is about 4.5 feet while on all four legs and about 6 feet tall when standing.
Tigers can sprint at over 60 kilometre/hour
Not the fastest runner in the animal kingdom but the fact that Tigers have very strong legs makes them sprint more or less than 60 kilometres per hour,
but it is only possible for short distances.
Tiger stripes are also found on their skin
Most of you may not know this but, most of the cat species have stripes on their fur as well as on their skin.
It is actually true that similar to human fingerprints, the unique pattern of stripes on Tigers acts like their identity.
Even if you shave off the fur of Tigers or house cats, you would still see the stripes.
Tigers prefer to hunt by ambush
One of the most common knowledge to any wildlife lovers, wild animals enjoy a surprise kill but not as much as Tigers.
Due to their stripe camouflage, they hide behind thick bushes and attack their victim from behind.
It is also said that Tigers are less likely to attack when we see them,
in fact, most of the villages in India wear a face mask on the back of their head just to trick the Tigers.
Tigers are solitary creatures
It is true, Tigers are considered as solitary animals.
Unlike the sights of multiple tigers kept in one cage in the zoos, you are less likely to spot the same age group of tigers roaming together in the wild.
Tigers like to stay alone, they are often observed taking a leisure walk all by themselves or perhaps building his strategies for his next meal.
Tigers can imitate the call of other animals
Tigers imitate the call of other animals! I had that same expression and it aroused me to dig deeper and found a positive answer, they certainly can.
Hunting by mimicry is an added advantage to animals;
it has been said that Tigers make a ‘pook’ sound similar to that of sambhar that draws these innocent animals into the trap and get ambushed.
Tigers do not normally view humans as a prey
Tigers tend to attack humans only when they feel threatened unless you look delicious (humour).
But on a serious note, we cannot deny that fact, there have been reports on Tigers killing people in rural places, so it is best to stay away from their territory.
If you come across such situations, it is best to walk backwards, constantly eyeing the Tiger, as mentioned earlier, as they mostly kill in ambush.
Tigers cannot purr
There have been many debates if Tigers can purr,
but there are some instances that mention Tigers do purr (occasionally) but this is probably done just for argument sake.
Although, Tigers do make other loud noises (not purring).
However, other wild cats like Cheetahs and Jaguars can purr but only when they exhale,
but if it is an actual purr or something else, the question still remains?
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