Tiger
A Bengal Tiger (P. The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily tigris tigris) in India's Bandhavgarh reserve.
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: P. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The diverse order Carnivora (kɑrˈnɪvərə or sometimes /ˌkɑrnɪˈvɔərə/ from Latin carō (stem carn-) "flesh" + vorāre Felidae is the biological family of the cats a member of this family is called a felid. Panthera is a Genus of the family Felidae (the cats which contains four well-known living Species: the Tiger, the tigris
Binomial name
Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Historical distribution of tigers (pale yellow) and 2006 (green). Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Year 1758 ( MDCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common [2]
Synonyms
Felis tigris Linnaeus, 1758 Tigris striatus Severtzov, 1858 Tigris regalis Gray, 1867

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a mammal of the Felidae family, the largest of four "big cats" in the genus Panthera. In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Year 1758 ( MDCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Nikolai Alekseevich Severtzov ( 1827 - February 8, 1885) was a Russian Explorer and naturalist. Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common John Edward Gray ( 12 February 1800 &ndash 7 March 1875) was a British zoologist. Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Felidae is the biological family of the cats a member of this family is called a felid. The term big cat is used to distinguish the larger cat species from smaller ones A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Panthera is a Genus of the family Felidae (the cats which contains four well-known living Species: the Tiger, the ^[3] Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore. A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting Reaching up to 4 metres (13 feet) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International ^[4][5] Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognizable feature is the pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts.

Highly adaptable, tigers range from the Siberian taiga, to open grasslands, to tropical mangrove swamps. Taiga (ˈtaɪgə from Turkic or Mongolian) is a Biome characterized by Coniferous forests Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the Vegetation is dominated by Grasses ( Poaceae) and other Herbaceous (non-woody Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the nine subspecies of modern tiger, three are extinct and the remaining six are classified as endangered, some critically so. In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation The primary direct causes are habitat destruction and fragmentation, and hunting. Habitat destruction is the process in which natural Habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present Habitat fragmentation is a process of environmental change important in Evolution and Conservation biology. Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade. Their historical range, which once reached from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus through most of South and East Asia, has been radically reduced. Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East While all surviving species are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression continue to be threats. Inbreeding depression is reduced fitness in a given Population as a result of breeding of related individuals

Nonetheless, tigers are among the most recognizable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. Charismatic megafauna are large animal species with widespread popular appeal that Environmental activists use to achieve conservation goals well beyond They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological Tigers appear on many flags and coats of arms, as mascots for sporting teams, and as the national animal of several Asian nations. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people The term mascot – defined as a term for any person animal or object thought to bring Luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common This article is about symbols of nations Many countries it can be used for is Chantal The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus

Contents 1 Naming and etymology 2 Range 3 Taxonomy and evolution 3.1 Subspecies 3.2 Extinct subspecies 3.3 Hybrids 4 Biology and behaviour 4.1 Physical characteristics 4.1.1 White tigers 4.2 Territorial behavior 4.3 Hunting and diet 4.4 Interspecific predatory relationships 4.5 Reproduction 5 Habitat 6 Conservation efforts 6.1 India 6.2 Russia 6.3 Tibet 6.4 Rewilding 6.4.1 Save China's Tigers 7 Relation with humans 7.1 Tiger as prey 7.2 Man-eating tigers 7.3 Traditional Asian medicine 7.4 As pets 7.5 Cultural depictions 7.6 World's favourite animal 8 Gallery 9 See also 10 Cited references 11 References 12 External links

Naming and etymology

The word "tiger" is taken from the Greek word "tigris", which is possibly derived from a Persian source meaning "arrow", a reference to the animal's speed and also the origin for the name of the River Tigris. The Tigris is the eastern member of the two great Rivers that define Mesopotamia, along with the Euphrates, which flows from the mountains of southeastern ^[6][7] In American English, "Tigress" was first recorded in 1611. It was one of the many species originally described, as Felis tigris, by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The book Systema Naturae was one of the major works of the Swedish doctor of medicine Carolus Linnaeus. ^[8] The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera tigris, is often presumed to derive from Greek pan- ("all") and ther ("beast"), but this may be a folk etymology. Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word a False etymology. Although it came into English through the classical languages, panthera is probably of East Asian origin, meaning "the yellowish animal," or "whitish-yellow". ^[9]

Range

In the historical past tigers were widespread in Asia, from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, to Siberia and Indonesia. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged Sea. During the 19th century the striped cats completely vanished from western Asia, and became restricted to isolated pockets in the remaining parts of their range. Today, this fragmented relic range extends from India in the west to China and Southeast Asia in the east. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The northern limit is close to the Amur River in south eastern Siberia. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving The only large island inhabited by tigers today is Sumatra. Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470000 km² and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two Tigers vanished from Java during the second half of the 19th century, and in Borneo are known only from fossil remains. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy and evolution

The oldest remains of a tiger-like cat, called Panthera palaeosinensis, have been found in China and Java. Panthera palaeosinensis was an early Pleistocene Species from northern China. This species lived about 2 million years ago, at the beginning of the Pleistocene, and was smaller than a modern tiger. The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period The earliest fossils of true tigers are known from Java, and are between 1. 6 and 1. 8 million years old. Distinct fossils from the early and middle Pleistocene were also discovered in deposits from China, and Sumatra. A subspecies called the Trinil tiger (Panthera tigris trinilensis) lived about 1. The Trinil tiger ( Panthera tigris trinilensis) is a fossil Tiger dating from about 1 2 million years ago and is known fossils found at Trinil in Java. Trinil is a palaeoanthropological site on the banks of the Bengawan Solo River in East Java, Indonesia. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. ^[10]

Tigers first reached India and northern Asia in the late Pleistocene, reaching eastern Beringia (but not the American Continent), and Japan, and Sakhalin. The Bering land bridge was a Land bridge roughly 1000 miles (1600 km north to south at its greatest extent which joined present-day Alaska and eastern Siberia For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Sakhalin (Сахали́н səxʌˈlʲin Japanese:nihongo|樺太|karafuto or; Chinese: 庫頁 Kùyè also Saghalien, is a large elongated Fossils found in Japan indicate that the local tigers were, like the surviving island subspecies, smaller than the mainland forms. This may be due to the phenomenon in which body size is related to environmental space (see insular dwarfism), or perhaps the availability of prey. Insular dwarfism is the process and condition of the reduction in size of large animals – almost always Mammals – when their gene pool is limited to a very small environment Until the Holocene, tigers also lived in Borneo. The Holocene is a Geological epoch which began approximately 10000 years ago (about 8000 BC

Subspecies

There are nine recent subspecies of tiger, three of which are extinct, and one of which is almost certain to become extinct in the near future. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. ^[3] Their historical range (severely diminished today) ran through Russia, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, and southeast Asia, including the Indonesian islands. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The surviving subspecies, in descending order of wild population, are:

• The Bengal tiger or the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma. The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. It lives in varied habitats: grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests, and mangroves. Males in the wild usually weigh 205 to 227 kg (450–500 lb), while the average female will weigh about 141 kg. ^[11] However, the northern Indian and the Nepalese Bengal tigers are somewhat bulkier than those found in the south of the Indian Subcontinent, with males averaging around 236 kg (520 lb). ^[12] While conservationists already believed the population to be below 2,000,^[13] the most recent audit by the Indian Government's National Tiger Conservation Authority has estimated the number at just 1,411 wild tigers (1165-1657 allowing for statistical error), a drop of 60% in the past decade. Following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force constituted by the Prime Minister of India, the National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005. In Statistics and optimization, the concepts of statistical error and residual are easily confused with each other ^[14] Since 1972, there has been a massive wildlife conservation project, known as Project Tiger, to protect the Bengal tiger. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Project Tiger is a Wildlife conservation project initiated in India in 1972 to protect the Bengal Tigers It was launched on April 1 The project is considered as one of the most successful wildlife conservation programs, though at least one Tiger Reserve (Sariska Tiger Reserve) has lost its entire tiger population to poaching. The Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most famous national parks in India located in the Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan ^[15]

• The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), also called Corbett's tiger, is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Indochinese tiger or Corbett's tiger ( Panthera tigris corbetti) is a Subspecies of Tiger found in Cambodia, Laos, The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially These tigers are smaller and darker than Bengal tigers: Males weigh from 150–190 kg (330–420 lb) while females are smaller at 110–140 kg (242–308 lb). Their preferred habitat is forests in mountainous or hilly regions. Estimates of the Indochinese tiger population vary between 1,200 to 1,800, with only several hundred left in the wild. The largest current population is in Malaysia, where illegal poaching is strictly controlled, but all existing populations are at extreme risk from habitat fragmentation and inbreeding. Poaching is the illegal Hunting, Fishing or Harvesting of wild plants or animals Habitat fragmentation is a process of environmental change important in Evolution and Conservation biology. Inbreeding is breeding between close Relatives whether plant or animal In Vietnam, almost three-quarters of the tigers killed provide stock for Chinese pharmacies.
• The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris malayensis), exclusively found in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, was not considered a subspecies in its own right until 2004. The Malayan tiger ( Panthera tigris jacksoni, Malay: Harimau Belang) exclusively found in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, until The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula (Semenanjung Tanah Melayu (คาบสมุทรมลายู is a major Peninsula located in Southeast The new classification came about after a study by Luo et al. from the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity Study,^[16] part of the National Cancer Institute of the United States. The National Cancer Institute (NCI is part of the United States Federal government's National Institutes of Health. Recent counts showed there are 600–800 tigers in the wild, making it the third largest tiger population, behind the Bengal tiger and the Indochinese tiger. The Malayan tiger is a national icon in Malaysia, appearing on its coat of arms and in logos of Malaysian institutions, such as Maybank. The National Emblem of Malaysia ( Jata Negara in Malay) or the Coat of Arms of Malaysia, comprises five major elements Maybank ( a trade name for Malayan Banking Berhad is the largest Bank and financial group in Malaysia, with significant personal banking operations

• The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and is critically endangered. The Sumatran tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of Tiger found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470000 km² and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two Organisms with a conservation status of critically endangered have an extremely high risk of becoming extinct ^[17] It is the smallest of all living tiger subspecies, with adult males weighing between 100–130 kg (220–286 lb) and females 70–90 kg (154–198 lb). Their small size is an adaptation to the thick, dense forests of the Sumatra island where they reside, as well as the smaller-sized prey. The wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500, seen chiefly in the island's national parks. This is the list of 50 officially recognized National parks in Indonesia. Recent genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, indicating that it may develop into a separate species, if it does not go extinct. ^[18] This has led to suggestions that Sumatran tigers should have greater priority for conservation than any other subspecies. While Habitat destruction is the main threat to the existing tiger population (logging continues even in the supposedly protected national parks), 66 tigers were recorded as being shot and killed between 1998 and 2000, or nearly 20% of the total population. Habitat destruction is the process in which natural Habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present

• The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Amur, Manchurian, Altaic, Korean or North China tiger, is confined to the Amur-Ussuri region of Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in far eastern Siberia, where it is now protected. The Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) also known as the Amur tiger, Manchurian tiger, or Ussuri tiger, is a rare Subspecies The Ussuri River is a River in the east of Northeast China and south of the Russian Far East. Primorsky Krai (Примо́рский край also known as Primorye (ru Примо́рье is a federal subject of Russia (a Krai) Khabarovsk Krai (Хаба́ровский край Khabarovsky kray) is a federal subject of Russia (a Krai) located in the Russian Far Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Considered the largest subspecies, with an average weight of around 227 kg (500 lb) for males,^[19] the Amur tiger is also noted for its thick coat, distinguished by a paler golden hue and fewer stripes. A six-month old Siberian tiger can be as big as a fully grown leopard. The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring The last two censuses (1996 and 2005) found 450–500 Amur tigers within their single, and more or less continuous, range making it one of the largest undivided tiger populations in the world.
• The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), also known as the Amoy or Xiamen tiger, is the most critically endangered subspecies of tiger and is listed as one of the 10 most endangered species in the world. The South China tiger or South Chinese tiger ( Panthera tigris amoyensis) also known as the Chinese Amoy or Xiamen tiger is a Subspecies of ^[20] It will almost certainly become extinct. One of the smaller tiger subspecies, the length of the South China tiger ranges from 2. 2–2. 6 m (87–104 in) for both males and females. Males weigh between 127 and 177 kg (280–390 lb) while females weigh between 100 and 118 kg (220–260 lb). From 1983 to 2007, no South China tigers were sighted. ^[21] In 2007 a farmer spotted a tiger and handed in photographs to the authorities as proof. ^[22][21] In 1977, the Chinese government passed a law banning the killing of wild tigers, but this may have been too late to save the subspecies. There are currently 59 known captive South China tigers, all within China, but these are known to be descended from only six animals. Thus, the genetic diversity required to maintain the subspecies may no longer exist. Genetic diversity is a level of Biodiversity that refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species Currently, there are breeding efforts to reintroduce these tigers to the wild by 2008.

Extinct subspecies

• The Balinese tiger (Panthera tigris balica) was limited to the island of Bali. The Bali tiger ( Panthera tigris balica) harimau Bali in Indonesian or referred to as samong in archaic Balinese language is an Bali is an Indonesian Island located at, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to These tigers were hunted to extinction—the last Balinese tiger is thought to have been killed at Sumbar Kima, West Bali on 27 September 1937; this was an adult female. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. No Balinese tiger was ever held in captivity. The tiger still plays an important role in Balinese Hindu religion. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

• The Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) was limited to the Indonesian island of Java. The Javan tiger ( Panthera tigris sondaica) was a Tiger limited to the Indonesian island of Java. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. It now seems likely that this subspecies became extinct in the 1980s, as a result of hunting and habitat destruction, but the extinction of this subspecies was extremely probable from the 1950s onwards (when it is thought that fewer than 25 tigers remained in the wild). The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The last confirmed specimen was sighted in 1979, but there were a few reported sightings during the 1990s. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) ^[23][24]

• The Caspian tiger or Persian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) appears to have become extinct in the wild in the late 1950s,^[25][26] with the last reliable sighting in 1968, though it is thought that such a tiger was last shot dead in the south-eastern-most part of Turkey in 1970. The Caspian tiger or Persian tiger ( Panthera tigris virgata) was the westernmost Subspecies of Tiger, found in Iran, Iraq The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Historically, it ranged through Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the former Soviet Union, and Turkey. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches ^[25] The Caspian tiger was a large subspecies and reached nearly the dimensions of the Bengal Tiger. The heaviest confirmed weight of a male was 240 kg. The ground colour was comparable to that of the Indian subspecies, but differed especially in the tight, narrow, striping pattern. The stripes were dark grey or brown, rather than black. Especially during the winter, the fur was relatively long. The Caspian tiger was one of two subspecies of tiger (along with the Bengal) that was used by the Romans to battle gladiators and other animals, including the Barbary Lion. Gladiators (gladiatores "swordsmen" or "one who uses a sword" from la ''gladius'' "sword" were professional fighters in Ancient Rome who fought The Barbary Lion, Atlas lion or Nubian lion ( Panthera leo leo) is a Subspecies of Lion that has become extinct in the wild The Romans traveled far to capture exotic beasts for the arena. There are still occasional reported sightings of the Caspian Tiger in the wild. ^[26]

Hybrids

Further information: Panthera hybrid, liger and tigon

Hybridization among the big cats, including the tiger, was first conceptualized in the 19th century, when zoos were particularly interested in the pursuit of finding oddities to display for financial gain. The four living species of Panthera genus ( Panthera leo ( Lion) Panthera onca ( Jaguar) Panthera pardus ( Leopard) The liger, is a hybrid cross between a male Lion and a female Tiger (i A tigon or tigron is a hybrid cross between a male Tiger and a female Lion. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar ^[27] Lions have been known to breed with tigers (most often the Amur and Bengal subspecies) to create hybrids called ligers and tigons. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. Reproduction is the Biological process by which new individual Organisms are produced The Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) also known as the Amur tiger, Manchurian tiger, or Ussuri tiger, is a rare Subspecies The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily The liger, is a hybrid cross between a male Lion and a female Tiger (i A tigon or tigron is a hybrid cross between a male Tiger and a female Lion. ^[28] Such hybrids were once commonly bred in zoos, but this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving species and subspecies. Hybrids are still bred in private menageries and in zoos in China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

The liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress. ^[29] Because the lion sire passes on a growth-promoting gene, but the corresponding growth-inhibiting gene from the female tiger is absent, ligers grow far larger than either parent. They share physical and behavioural qualities of both parent species (spots and stripes on a sandy background). Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. Males have about a 50% chance of having a mane, but, even if they do, their manes will be only around half the size of that of a pure lion. Ligers are typically between 10 to 12 feet in length, and can be between 800 and 1,000 pounds or more. ^[29]

The less common tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger. ^[30]

Biology and behaviour

Physical characteristics

Tigers are the heaviest cats found in the wild,^[31] but the subspecies differ markedly in size, tending to increase proportionally with latitude, as predicted by Bergmann's Rule. Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the In Zoology, Bergmann's rule is an ecogeographic rule that correlates Latitude with body mass in animals Large male Siberian Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) can reach a total length of 3. The Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) also known as the Amur tiger, Manchurian tiger, or Ussuri tiger, is a rare Subspecies 5 m and a weight of 306 kilograms. ^[32] Apart from those exceptional large individuals, male Siberian tigers usually have a head and body length of 190–220 cm and an average weight of 227 kg^[33] (The tail of a tiger is 60–110 cm long). The heaviest wild Siberian tiger on record weighed in at 384 kg,^[34] but according to Mazak these giants are not confirmed via reliable references. ^[32] Females are smaller, even those of the large Siberian and Indian subspecies weigh only between 100 and 181 kg. Island-dwelling tigers, such as the Sumatran subspecies, are much smaller than mainland tigers and weigh usually only 100–140 kg in males and 75–110 kg in females. The extinct Bali Tiger was even smaller, with a weight of 90–100 kg in males and 65–80 kg in females. The Bali tiger ( Panthera tigris balica) harimau Bali in Indonesian or referred to as samong in archaic Balinese language is an ^[32]

Tigers have rusty-reddish to brown-rusty coats, a whitish medial and ventral area, and stripes that vary from brown or gray to pure black. The form and density of stripes differs between subspecies, but most tigers have over 100 stripes. The pattern of stripes is unique to each animal, and thus could potentially be used to identify individuals, much in the same way as fingerprints are used to identify people. A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the finger This is not, however, a preferred method of identification, due to the difficulty of recording the stripe pattern of a wild tiger. It seems likely that the function of stripes is camouflage, serving to hide these animals from their prey. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism The stripe pattern is found on a tiger's skin and if shaved, its distinctive camouflage pattern would be preserved. Male tigers have wider forepaw pads than females. This difference is often used by biologists in determining the gender of tigers when observing their tracks. ^[35]

White tigers

Main article: White tiger

There is a well-known mutation that produces the white tiger, technically known as chinchilla albinistic,^[36] an animal which is rare in the wild, but widely bred in zoos due to its popularity. The Singapore Zoo ( Chinese: 新加坡动物园 formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens and commonly known locally as the Mandai Zoo, occupies A white tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a Tiger with a genetic condition that nearly eliminates pigment in the normally orange fur although they still A white tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a Tiger with a genetic condition that nearly eliminates pigment in the normally orange fur although they still Breeding of white tigers will often lead to inbreeding (as the trait is recessive). Inbreeding is breeding between close Relatives whether plant or animal Many initiatives have taken place in white and orange tiger mating in an attempt to remedy the issue, often mixing subspecies in the process. Recordings of white tigers were first made in the early 19th century. ^[37] They can only occur when both parents carry the rare gene found in White tigers; this gene has been calculated to occur in only one in every 10,000 births. The white tiger is not a separate sub-species, but only a colour variation. Nor are they in any way more endangered than tigers are generally, this being a common misconception. Another misconception is that White tigers are albinos, despite the fact that pigment is evident in the White tiger's stripes. Albinism (from Latin albus, "white" see extended etymology) is a form of hypopigmentary Congenital disorder, They are distinct not only because of their white hue; they also have blue eyes and pink noses.

There are also unconfirmed reports of a "blue" or slate-coloured tiger, and largely or totally black tigers, and these are assumed, if real, to be intermittent mutations rather than distinct species. The Maltese tiger, or blue tiger, is a suspected coloration morph of a Tiger, reported mostly from the Fujian Province of China. A black tiger is a rare color variant of the Tiger and is not a distinct Species or geographic Subspecies. ^[36]

Like most cats, tigers are believed to have some degree of color vision. Color vision is the capacity of an organism or machine to distinguish objects based on the Wavelengths (or frequencies) of the Light they reflect or emit ^[38]

Territorial behavior

Adult tigers are fiercely territorial. The size of a tiger's home range mainly depends on prey abundance, and, in the case of male tigers, on access to females. A tigress may have a territory of 20 square kilometres while the territories of males are much larger, covering 60–100 km². Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of While females can at times be aggressive towards other females, their territories can overlap and they do tolerate each other. Males, however, are usually intolerant of other males within their territory. Because of their aggressive nature, territorial disputes can be violent, and may end in the death of one of the males. To identify his territory, the male marks trees by spraying of urine and anal gland secretions, as well as marking trails with scat. Territorial marking is Behavior used by Animals to identify their territory. Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the Anus Males show a grimacing face, called the Flehmen response, when identifying a female's reproductive condition by sniffing their urine markings. The flehmen response, ˈflɛːmən or fleɪmən also called the flehmen position, flehmen reaction, flehming, or flehmening (from German

Male tigers can mingle easily with females in their territories, and will even share kills. George Schaller observed a male tiger share a kill with two females and four cubs. Dr George Beals Schaller (born 1933 is a Mammalogist, naturalist, Conservationist and author Females are often reluctant to let males near their cubs, but Schaller saw that these females made no effort to protect or keep their cubs from the male. This suggests that the male might have been the father of the cubs. In contrast to male lions, male tigers will allow the females and cubs to feed on the kill first. Females will also share kills, even more so than the males. They are also much more tolerant of sharing kills with individuals of the same sex. ^[39]

Tigers have been studied in the wild using a variety of techniques. The populations of tigers were estimated in the past using plaster casts of their pugmarks. Pugmark is the term used to refer to the Footprint of most animals (especially Megafauna) This method was found faulty^[40] and attempts were made to use camera trapping instead. Newer techniques based on DNA from their scat are also being evaluated. Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known Radio collaring has also been a popular approach to tracking them for study in the wild.

Hunting and diet

In the wild, tigers mostly feed on larger and medium sized animals. Sambar, gaur, domestic buffalo, chital, boar, and nilgai are the tiger's favored prey in India. The gaur (ˈɡaʊɚ ( Bos gaurus, previously Bibos gauris) is a large dark-coated bovine animal of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The chital or cheetal ( Axis axis) also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is a Deer which commonly inhabits The boar or wild boar ( Sus scrofa) is an Omnivorous, gregarious Mammal of the biological family Suidae. Blue bull redirects here For the South African Rugby union team see Blue Bulls. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country In Siberia the main prey species are Mandchurian elk, wild boar, Sika Deer, roe deer, and musk deer. The elk, or wapiti ( Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest Species of Deer in the world and one of the largest Mammals in The Sika Deer ( Cervus nippon) is a member of the deer family Cervidae that inhabits much of East Asia. Capreolus pygargus, also known as the Siberian roe deer or eastern roe deer, is a species of Roe deer found in northeastern Asia Musk deer are Artiodactyls of the genus Moschus, the only genus of family Moschidae. In Sumatra Rusa Deer, wild boar, and Malayan Tapir are preyed on. The Malayan Tapir ( Tapirus indicus) also called the Asian Tapir, is the largest of the four species of Tapir and the only one native to Asia In the former Caspian tiger's range, prey included Saiga Antelope, camels, Caucasian Wisent, yak, and wild horses. Camels are Even-toed ungulates within the Genus Camelus. The Dromedary, one-humped or Arabian camel has a single hump and the The Caucasian Wisent ( Bison bonasus caucasicus) was a subspecies of Wisent that inhabited the Caucasus Mountains of Eastern Europe. The yak ( Bos grunniens) is a long-haired Bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Qinghai - Like many predators, they are opportunistic and will eat much smaller prey, such as monkeys, peafowls, hares, and fish. A monkey is any member of either the New World monkeys or Old World monkeys two of the three groupings of Simian Primates the third group being The term peafowl refers to Gallinaceous Birds classified within the genera Rheinardia Argusianus Afropavoand Pavo Hares and jackrabbits are Leporids belonging to the Genus Lepus. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two

Adult elephants are too dangerous to tigers to serve as common prey, but conflicts between elephants and tigers do sometimes take place. Elephants ( family: Elephantidae) are large land Mammals of the order Proboscidea. A case where a tiger killed an adult female Indian Rhinoceros has been observed. The Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal found in Nepal ^[41] Young elephant and rhino calves are occasionally taken. Tigers also sometimes prey on domestic animals such as dogs, cows, horses, and donkeys. These individuals are termed cattle-lifters or cattle-killers in contrast to typical game-killers.

Old tigers, or those wounded and rendered incapable of catching their natural prey, have turned into man-eaters; this pattern has recurred frequently across India. An exceptional case is that of the Sundarbans, where healthy tigers prey upon fishermen and villagers in search of forest produce, humans thereby forming a minor part of the Tiger's diet. The Sundarbans (সুন্দরবন Shundorbôn) is the largest single block of tidal halophytic Mangrove forest in the world ^[42]

Tigers hunt alone and ambush their prey as other cats do, overpowering them from any angle, using their body size and strength to knock large prey off balance. Save China's Tigers (SCT is an international charitable foundation based in Hong Kong, the United States, and the United Kingdom (Office in London The Blesbok, or Blesbuck, ( Damaliscus dorcas phillpsi) is related to the Bontebok ( Damaliscus dorcas dorcas) and it is purplish Antelope Colobinae is a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 58 Species in 10 genera, including the Skunk -like Black-and-white Even with their great masses, tigers can reach speeds of about 49-65 kilometres per hour (35-40 miles per hour). (For the South African airport with IATA code "KMH" see Johan Pienaar Airport. When hunting large prey, tigers prefer to bite the throat and use their muscled forelimbs to hold onto the prey, bringing it to the ground. The tiger remains latched onto the neck until its prey dies of strangulation. ^[43] With small prey, the tiger bites the nape, often breaking the spinal cord, piercing the windpipe, or severing the jugular vein or common carotid artery. The nape is the back of the Neck. In many mammals the nape is the site of the scruff, a loose non-sensitive area of skin by which the mother can carry her young The spinal cord is a long thin tubular bundle of Nerves that is an extension of the Central nervous system from the brain and is enclosed in and protected The traceartes, or windpipe, is a tube that has an inner diameter of about 20-25 mm and a length of about 10-16 cm in humans The jugular veins are Veins that bring deoxygenated blood from the Head back to the heart via the Superior vena cava. In Human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an Artery that supplies the head and neck with Oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the ^[44] Though rarely observed, some tigers have been recorded to kill prey by swiping with their paws, which are powerful enough to smash the skulls of domestic cattle,^[45] and break the backs of sloth bears. ^[46]

In the wild, tigers can leap as high as 5 m (16 ft) and as far as 9–10 m (30–33 ft), making them one of the highest-jumping mammals, just slightly behind cougars in ability. The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family

They have been reported to carry domestic livestock weighing 50 kg (110 lb) while easily jumping over fences 2 m (6 ft 6 in) high. Their heavily muscled forelimbs are used to hold tightly onto the prey and to avoid being dislodged, especially by large prey such as gaurs. Gaurs and water buffalos weighing over a ton have been killed by tigers weighing about a sixth as much. ^[47]

Tigers will occasionally eat vegetation for dietary fiber, the fruit of the Slow Match Tree being favoured. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Careya arborea is a species under Lecythidaceae family It is known as Kumbhi in Hindi and Slow Match Tree in English ^[45]

Interspecific predatory relationships

Tigers may kill such formidable predators as leopards, pythons and even crocodiles on occasion,^[48][49][50] although predators typically avoid one another. The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring Common names pythons The Pythonidae are a family of non- Venomous Snakes found in Africa, Asia A crocodile is any Species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the Subfamily Crocodylinae) When seized by a crocodile, a tiger will strike at the reptile's eyes with its paws. ^[45] Leopards dodge competition from tigers by hunting in different times of the day and hunting different prey. ^[41] Tigers have been known to suppress wolf populations in areas where the two species coexist. The grey wolf or gray wolf ( Canis lupus) also known as the timber wolf or simply wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora ^[51][52] Dhole packs have been observed to attack and kill tigers in disputes over food, though not usually without heavy losses. The Dhole ( Cuon alpinus) also known as the Asiatic Wild Dog, Indian Wild Dog or Red Dog is a Mammal of the order Carnivora ^[46] Siberian Tigers and Brown Bears can be competitors and usually avoid confrontation; however, tigers will kill bear cubs and even some adults on occasion. The Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) also known as the Amur tiger, Manchurian tiger, or Ussuri tiger, is a rare Subspecies The Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos) is an Omnivorous Mammal of the family Ursidae, distributed across much of northern Eurasia and Bears (Asiatic Black Bears and Brown Bears) make up 5-8% of the Tiger's diet in the Russian Far East. The Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos) is an Omnivorous Mammal of the family Ursidae, distributed across much of northern Eurasia and Russian Far East (Да́льний Восто́к Росси́и ˈdalʲnʲɪj vʌˈstok rʌˈsʲiɪ is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i ^[32] Some bears emerging from hibernation will seek out tigers to steal their kills, although the tiger will often defend its kill. ^[35] Sloth Bears are quite aggressive and will sometimes drive tigers away from their kills, although in other cases Bengal tigers prey on sloth bears. The Sloth Bear ( Melursus ursinus) also known as the Lip Bear, Though originally classed as a "bear sloth" due to the shape of its claws ^[32]

Reproduction

A female is only receptive for a few days and mating is frequent during that time period. In Biology, mating is the pairing of opposite- Sex or hermaphroditic Organisms for copulation and in Social animals also to raise their A pair will copulate frequently and noisily, like other cats. The gestation period is 16 weeks and 3–4 cubs of about 1 kg (2 lb) each are born. The females rear them alone. Wandering male tigers may kill cubs to make the female receptive. At 8 weeks, the cubs are ready to follow their mother out of the den. The cubs become independent around 18 months of age, but it is not until they are around 2–2½ years old that they leave their mother. The cubs reach sexual maturity by 3–4 years of age. The female tigers generally own territory near their mother, while males tend to wander in search of territory, which they acquire by fighting and eliminating another male. Over the course of her life, a female tiger will give birth to an approximately equal number of male and female cubs. Tigers breed well in captivity, and the captive population in the United States may rival the wild population of the world. ^[39]

Habitat

Typical tiger country has three main features: It will always have good cover, it will always be close to water and plenty of prey. In Political geography and International politics, a country is a Political division of a geographical entity Year 3 ( III) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Bengal Tigers live in all types of forests, including Wet, Evergreen, semi-evergreen of Assam and eastern Bengal; the mangrove forest of Ganges Delta; The deciduous forest of Nepal and thorn forests of the Western Ghats. The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily Wet could refer to The condition of being Liquid or being covered in liquid ''Wet'' (album, an album released in 1979 by Barbra Streisand In Botany, an Evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent The Temperate deciduous forest is a Biome found in the eastern United States, Canada, central Mexico, southern South America, Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Compared to the lion, the tiger prefers more dense vegetation, for which its camouflage is ideally suited, and where a single predator is not at a disadvantage compared to a pride. Among the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are strong swimmers; tigers are often found bathing in ponds, lakes, and rivers. The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance A pond is a body of water smaller than a Lake, both being examples of Terrain features Although the term pond is universally used to describe waterbodies that A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there Unlike other cats, which tend to avoid water, tigers actively seek it out. During the extreme heat of the day, they are often to be found cooling off in pools. Afternoon is the time of day from 1200 ( Noon) to -depending upon context- Evening, Sunset, or 1800 Tigers are excellent swimmers, better than the jaguar and can swim up to 4 miles. The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Tigers are often to be found carrying their dead prey across lakes. A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the

Conservation efforts

Main article: Tiger conservation

Poaching for fur and destruction of habitat have greatly reduced tiger populations in the wild. Humans are the Tiger 's most significant predator as tigers are often poached illegally for their Fur. Poaching is the illegal Hunting, Fishing or Harvesting of wild plants or animals A habitat (which is Latin for "it inhabits" is an Ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular Species. A century ago, it is estimated there were over 100,000 tigers in the world but the population has dwindled to between 7,000 and 5,000 tigers. ^[53] Some estimates suggest the population is even lower, with some at less than 2,500 mature breeding individuals, with no subpopulation containing more than 250 mature breeding individuals. ^[1] The threat of extinction is mitigated somewhat by the presence of some 20,000 tigers currently in captivity, although parts of the captive population, such as the 4-5,000 animals in China's commercial tiger farms, are of low genetic diversity.

India

Main article: Project Tiger

India harbors the largest population of wild tigers in the world, along with one of the highest human populations. Project Tiger is a Wildlife conservation project initiated in India in 1972 to protect the Bengal Tigers It was launched on April 1 A major concerted conservation effort known as Project Tiger has been underway since 1973, spearheaded by Indira Gandhi. Project Tiger is a Wildlife conservation project initiated in India in 1972 to protect the Bengal Tigers It was launched on April 1 Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi ( Indirā Priyadarśinī Gāndhī) ( Née: Nehru (19 November 1917 - 31 October 1984 was the Prime Minister of the The fundamental accomplishment has been the establishment of over 25 well-monitored tiger reserves in reclaimed land where human development is categorically forbidden. The program has been credited with tripling the number of wild Bengal tigers from roughly 1,200 in 1973 to over 3,500 in the 1990s, though the reports of the Indian government are occasionally met with some skepticism. A recently passed tribal Bill, which allows tribal populations to reside inside designated tiger sanctuaries, may have impacts on the continuing success of the program.

A tiger census carried out over 2007, whose report was published on February 12, 2008 stated that the wild tiger population in India has come down to approximately 1,411. It is noted in the report that the decrease of tiger population can be attributed directly to poaching. ^[54]

Russia

The Siberian tiger was on the brink of extinction with only about 40 animals in the wild in the 1940s. Under the Soviet Union, anti-poaching controls were strict and a network of protected zones (zapovedniks) were instituted, leading to a rise in the population to several hundred. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Zapovedniks ( Russian: заповедник, from the Russian заповедный "sacred prohibited from disturbance reserved" or scientific Poaching again became a problem in the 1990s, when the economy of Russia collapsed, local hunters had access to a formerly sealed off lucrative Chinese market, and logging in the region increased. Russia is a unique emerging market in the sense that being the nucleus of a former superpower shows more anomalies While an improvement in the local economy has led to greater resources being invested in conservation efforts, an increase of economic activity has led to an increased rate of development and deforestation. The major obstacle in preserving the species is the enormous territory individual tigers require (up to 450 km² needed by a single female). ^[31] Current conservation efforts are led by local governments and NGO's in consort with international organizations, such as the World Wide Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The Wildlife Conservation Society ( WCS) endeavors to save Wildlife and wild lands though careful use of science conservation around the world education ^[31] Currently, there are about 400-550 animals in the wild.

Tibet

In Tibet, tiger and leopard pelts have traditionally been used in various ceremonies and costumes. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European In January 2006 the Dalai Lama preached a ruling against using, selling, or buying wild animals, their products, or derivatives. Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub ( 6 July 1935 in Qinghai) He is the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile It has yet to be seen whether this will result in a long-term slump in the demand for poached tiger and leopard skins. ^[55][56][57]

Rewilding

The first attempt at rewilding was by Indian conservationist Billy Arjan Singh, who reared a zoo-born tigress named Tara, and released her in the wilds of Dudhwa National Park in 1978. Pleistocene Rewilding Rewilding is the process of creating a lifestyle that is beyond Domestication. A former hunter turned avid conservationist and author Feisty 'Billy' Arjan Singh is a conservationist recognised by most tiger lovers General info Area: 490 km² core 124 km² buffer Established: 1958 as a wildlife sanctuary 1977 as a national park 1988 as a tiger reserve This was soon followed by a large number of people being eaten by a tigress who was later shot. Government officials claim that this tigress was Tara, an assertion hotly contested by Singh and conservationists. Later on, this rewilding gained further disrepute when it was found that the local gene pool had been sullied by Tara's introduction as she was partly Siberian tiger, a fact not known at the time of release, ostensibly due to poor record-keeping at Twycross Zoo, where she had been raised. In Population genetics, a gene pool is the complete set of unique Alleles in a Species or Population. Twycross Zoo (also known as the World Primate Centre) is a large zoo near the village of Twycross on the border of Leicestershire (on the A444 about ^{[58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67]}

Save China's Tigers

Main article: Save China's Tigers

The organisation Save China's Tigers, working with the Wildlife Research Centre of the State Forestry Administration of China and the Chinese Tigers South Africa Trust, secured an agreement on the reintroduction of Chinese Tigers into the wild. Save China's Tigers (SCT is an international charitable foundation based in Hong Kong, the United States, and the United Kingdom (Office in London The agreement, which was signed in Beijing on 26 November 2002, calls for the establishment of a Chinese Tiger conservation model through the creation of a pilot reserve in China where indigenous wildlife, including the South China Tiger, will be reintroduced. "Conservation Biology" redirects here For the Scientific journal, see Conservation Biology (journal. A number of Chinese tiger cubs will be selected from zoos in China and sent to a 300 square kilometre reserve near the town of Philippolis in South Africa, where they will be taught to hunt for themselves. Philippolis is a small town in the Free State province of South Africa. The offspring of the trained tigers will be released into the pilot reserves in China, while the original animals will stay in South Africa to continue breeding. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa ^[68] A second Chinese tiger rehabilitation project is also being run in Fujian, China. ^[69]

China will conduct the work of surveying land, restoring habitat and prey within the pilot reserve. A habitat (which is Latin for "it inhabits" is an Ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular Species. The first Chinese Tigers are expected to be reintroduced into the wild to coincide with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. ^[70]

Relation with humans

Tiger as prey

Main article: Tiger hunting

The tiger has been one of the Big Five game animals of Asia. Humans are the Tiger 's most significant predator as tigers are often poached illegally for their Fur. The phrase Big Five game was coined by Big-game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot Tiger hunting took place on a large scale in the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries, being a recognised and admired sport by the British in colonial India as well as the maharajas and aristocratic class of the erstwhile princely states of pre-independence India. Tiger hunting was done by some hunters on foot; others sat up on machans with a goat or buffalo tied out as bait; yet others on elephant-back. ^[71] In some cases, villagers beating drums were organised to drive the animals into the killing zone. Elaborate instructions were available for the skinning of tigers and there were taxidermists who specialised in the preparation of tiger skins.

Man-eating tigers

Main article: Man-eating tigers

Although humans are not regular prey for tigers, they have killed more people than any other cat, particularly in those places where population growth, logging, and farming have put pressure on tiger habitats. Because many of the south Asian subspecies of Tiger, particularly the Bengal tiger in India, reside in areas of high and growing Population density The Tigress of Jowlagiri was a man-eating Bengal tigress responsible for the deaths of 15 people over an area extending Jowlagiri in the extreme north Kenneth Anderson (1910-1974 was an Indian Writer and Hunter who wrote many books about his adventures in the jungles of South India. Most man-eating tigers are old and missing teeth, acquiring a taste for humans because of their inability to capture preferred prey. ^[72] Almost all tigers that are identified as man-eaters are quickly captured, shot, or poisoned. Unlike man-eating leopards, even established man-eating tigers will seldom enter human settlements, usually remaining at village outskirts. ^[73] Nevertheless, attacks in human villages do occur. ^[74] Man-eaters have been a particular problem in India and Bangladesh, especially in Kumaon, Garhwal and the Sundarbans mangrove swamps of Bengal, where some healthy tigers have been known to hunt humans. Kumaon (or Kumaun) is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal Garhwal, or Gurwal (गढ़वाल ɡəɽʱʋal is a region and administrative division of Uttarakhand state India, lying in the Himalayas. The Sundarbans (সুন্দরবন Shundorbôn) is the largest single block of tidal halophytic Mangrove forest in the world Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang

Traditional Asian medicine

Many people in China have a belief that various tiger parts have medicinal properties, including as pain killers and aphrodisiacs. ^[75] There is no scientific evidence to support these beliefs. The use of tiger parts in pharmaceutical drugs in China is already banned, and the government has made some offenses in connection with tiger poaching punishable by death. Furthermore, all trade in tiger parts is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and a domestic trade ban has been in place in China since 1993. CITES (the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments drafted Still, there are a number of tiger farms in the country specializing in breeding the cats for profit. It is estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 captive-bred, semi-tame animals live in these farms today. ^[76][77]

As pets

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums estimates that up to 12,000 tigers are being kept as private pets in the USA, significantly more than the world's entire wild population. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums ( AZA; previously American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and originally American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums ^[78] 4,000 are believed to be in captivity in Texas alone. ^[78]

In Brian De Palma's remake of Scarface, starring Al Pacino, Pacino's character, Tony Montana, aspires to obtaining all the exterior trappings of the American Dream, which in the character's opinion included keeping a pet tiger on his property.

Part of the reason for America's enormous tiger population relates to legislation. Only nineteen states have banned private ownership of tigers, fifteen require only a licence, and sixteen states have no regulations at all. ^[78]

The success of breeding programmes at American zoos and circuses led to an overabundance of cubs in the 1980s and 90s, which drove down prices for the animals. ^[78] The SPCA estimate there are now 500 lions, tigers and other big cats in private ownership just in the Houston area. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ASPCA) is a Non-profit organization which as the name says is dedicated to preventing cruelty towards ^[78]

Cultural depictions

The tiger replaces the lion as King of the Beasts in cultures of eastern Asia,^[79] representing royalty, fearlessness and wrath. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese 歌川国芳 ( 1797 - April 14, 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese Ukiyo-e style ^[80] Its forehead has a marking which resembles the Chinese character 王, which means "king"; consequently, many cartoon depictions of tigers in China and Korea are drawn with 王 on their forehead.

Of great importance in Chinese myth and culture, the tiger is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. The Tiger ( 虎) associated with good fortune power and royalty is viewed with both fear and respect The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals Also in various Chinese art and martial art, the tiger is depicted as an earth symbol and equal rival of the Chinese dragon- the two representing matter and spirit respectively. Chinese art ( Chinese: 中國藝術/中国艺术 has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling Dynasties of China and changing The Chinese Dragon or Oriental dragon is a mythical creature in East Asian culture with a Chinese origin In fact, the Southern Chinese martial art Hung Ga is based on the movements of the Tiger and the Crane. The Hung Ga curriculum of Wong Fei-Hung The Hung Ga curriculum that Wong Fei-Hung learned from his father comprised Single In Imperial China, a tiger was the personification of war and often represented the highest army general (or present day defense secretary),^[80] while the emperor and empress were represented by a dragon and phoenix, respectively. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U The dragon is a Legendary creature of which some interpretation or depiction appears in almost every culture worldwide Fenghuang are mythological Chinese birds that reign over all other birds The White Tiger (Chinese: 白虎; pinyin: Bái Hǔ) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. The White Tiger (白虎 is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎 Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The Four Symbols ( are four mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations They also appear in Korean mythology It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎), and it represents the west and the autumn season. This article refers to the cardinal direction for other uses see West (disambiguation. Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four Temperate Seasons Autumn marks the transition from Summer ^[80]

In Buddhism, it is also one of the Three Senseless Creatures, symbolizing anger, with the monkey representing greed and the deer lovesickness. ^[80]

The Tungusic people considered the Siberian tiger a near-deity and often referred to it as "Grandfather" or "Old man". The term Tungusic peoples is used to describe peoples speaking a Tungusic language. The Udege and Nanai called it "Amba". Udege ( Удэгейцы in Russian; Ethnonym: удээ and удэхе, or udee and udehe correspondingly are a people who live in The Nanai people (self name нани tr "nani" Russian: нанайцы tr The Manchu considered the Siberian tiger as Hu Lin, the king. The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in ^[35]

The widely worshiped Hindu goddess Durga, an aspect of Devi-Parvati, is a ten-armed warrior who rides the tigress (or lioness) Damon into battle. In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess Devi ( Devanagari: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. Parvati ( Sanskrit: Pārvatī sa [[wiktपार्वती पार्वती]] sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu In southern India the god Aiyappa was associated with a tiger. ^[81]

The weretiger replaces the werewolf in shapeshifting folklore in Asia;^[82] in India they were evil sorcerers while in Indonesia and Malaysia they were somewhat more benign. Werecats (also written in a hyphenated form as were-cats) are creatures of Folklore, Fantasy fiction Horror fiction, and Occultism See also Lycanthropy (disambiguation Werewolves, also known as lycanthropes, are mythological or folkloric humans with the ability to Shapeshifting is a common theme in Mythology and Folklore, as well as in Science fiction and Fantasy. ^[83]

"Nimer" (tiger) is a common Arabic male first name,^[84] fulfilling a similar function (i. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language e. calling a man by the name of a strong and powerful animal) as "lion" names such as Leon, Leo or Leonard in various European languagues. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. LEON is a Computer CPU core specifically a 32-bit Microprocessor based on RISC design

The tiger continues to be a subject in literature; both Rudyard Kipling, in The Jungle Book, and William Blake, in Songs of Experience, depict the tiger as a menacing and fearful animal. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 was an English Author and poet The Jungle Book (1894 is a collection of stories written by Rudyard Kipling. William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827 was an English poet, painter, and Printmaker. Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul are two books of Poetry by the English Poet and painter In The Jungle Book, the tiger, Shere Khan, is the wicked mortal enemy of the protagonist, Mowgli. Shere Khan is a fictional tiger of the Indian jungle named after a Pashtun Prince (Sher Khan Nasher Kipling encountered on his trips to Afghanistan Mowgli (ˈmaʊɡli is a fictional character who originally appeared in Rudyard Kipling 's Short story "In the Rukh" (collected in Many Inventions However, other depictions are more benign: Tigger, the tiger from A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories, is cuddly and likable. Tigger is a fictional Tiger character originally introduced in A Alan Alexander Milne (ˈmɪln (18 January 1882 &ndash 31 January 1956 was an English Author, best known for his Books about the Teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, commonly shortened to Pooh Bear and once referred to as Edward Bear, is a fictional Bear created by A In the Man Booker Prize winning novel "Life of Pi," the protagonist, Pi Patel, sole human survivor of a ship wreck in the Pacific Ocean, befriends another survivor: a large Bengal Tiger. The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, also known in short as the Booker Prize, is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length Novel A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure Novel by Canadian author Yann Martel. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily The famous comic strip Calvin and Hobbes features Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes. Calvin and Hobbes is a Comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson, following the humorous antics of Calvin, an imaginative A tiger is also featured on the cover of the popular cereal Frosted Flakes (also marketed as "Frosties") bearing the name "Tony the Tiger". Tony the Tiger (El Tigre Toño is the Advertising Cartoon Mascot for Kellogg 's Frosted Flakes (also known as Frosties

The Tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh, Nepal, India^[85] (Bengal Tiger)^[86] Malaysia (Malayan Tiger), North Korea and South Korea (Siberian Tiger). ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) is a Subspecies of Tiger primarily For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː

World's favourite animal

In a poll conducted by Animal Planet, the Tiger was voted the world's favourite animal, narrowly beating man's best friend, the dog. Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order More than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries voted in the poll. The tiger received 21 percent of the vote, the dog 20, the dolphin 13, the horse 10, the lion 9, the snake 8, followed by the elephant, the chimpanzee, the orangutan and the whale. The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. Elephants ( family: Elephantidae) are large land Mammals of the order Proboscidea. Chimpanzee (often shortened to chimp) is the common name for the two extant Species of Apes in the Genus Pan. The orangutans are two Species of great apes known for their intelligence long arms and reddish-brown hair Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas ^{[87][88][89][90]}

Animal behaviourist Candy d'Sa, who worked with Animal Planet on the list, said: "We can relate to the tiger, as it is fierce and commanding on the outside, but noble and discerning on the inside". ^[87]

Callum Rankine, international species officer at the World Wildlife Federation conservation charity, said the result gave him hope. "If people are voting tigers as their favourite animal, it means they recognise their importance, and hopefully the need to ensure their survival," he said. ^[87]

Gallery

Picture of Felis tigris (Panthera tigris) subspecies unknown	Dervish with a lion and a tiger. Mughal painting, c. 1650	Bengal tiger	Sumatran tiger
Siberian Tiger	Siberian tiger	Bengal tiger cooling off at Bandhavghar, India	Vibrissae of a Tiger at Chester Zoo. jpg

See also

• Black tiger (animal)
• Maltese Tiger
• Project Tiger, India
• Siegfried & Roy, two famous tamers of tigers
• Tiger Temple, a Buddhist temple in Thailand famous for its tame tigers

Cited references

References

External links

• Center for Animal Research and Education Providing Sanctuary for over 50 big cats
• Save The Tiger Fund
• Save China's Tigers Information regarding the South China Tiger rewilding project in Africa
• Sundarbans Tiger Project Research and Conservation of tigers in the largest remaining mangrove forest in the world.
• Tiger Conservation Securing a future for Tigers in the wild
• Tigers in Crisis Information about the Earth's vanishing Tigers.
• BBC Wildfacts: Tiger
• Can India's tigers survive extinction? Author Valmik Thapar on the tiger crisis
• Why India's tigers may yet survive Scientist Ullas Karanth on the road ahead
• Tiger Haven Sanctuary
• Tiger Canyons Homepage Information regarding the Crossbred Tiger Rewilding project
• Kanha National Park
• 21st Century Tiger Raises funds for wild tiger conservation projects
• Indian tiger vertical leap as high as an elephant's head

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