One of six living subspecies of tiger, the Malayan tiger wears the characteristic striping pattern of black stripes on orange and white that provides excellent camouflage in the forest. Using its quiet stalking ability, a tiger will ambush large prey, often pouncing on it from the rear. Other than females with their young, tigers are solitary and come together only to mate. Each tiger defends its own territory from others of the same gender. Territories must be large to provide enough prey for a tiger to eat. As more and more forests disappear, tigers struggle to maintain a territory with sufficient prey.
- A tiger may travel up to 20 miles a night in search of prey.
- Unlike most cats, tigers seem to enjoy swimming and soaking in water.
- A tiger’s roar can be heard up to two miles away.
- One out of every 10,000 tigers will lack the orange coloring. These white tigers are not albinos; they simply express a recessive gene.
Fact File
- Length: 7.6 to 9.3 ft
- Weight: 220 to 400 lbs
- Lifespan: 15 yrs in wild
- Habitat: Forest
- Prey: Deer, wild pigs, and cattle
- Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Endangered)
No comments:
Post a Comment