Tiger's Habitat: What do Tigers Eat?

Tigers are the largest cat species and the third largest land carnivore after the Polar bear and the Brown bear. They usually weigh up to 675 pounds and live for around 20 to 25 years. A tigress is usually smaller than the male in all the subspecies, and an adult tiger reaches a body length of around 11 feet.

These animals are known to have the longest canines of the living cats. Their most distinct features are powerful forelimbs and large heads, plus the dark vertical stripes that are unique to each individual tiger, set against their reddish-orange fur.

Habitat and Location

Dense forests with enough cover, access to water, and an abundance of prey are the most important factors that shape a tiger's habitat. Formerly, tigers were found ranging from the forests of eastern Turkey to the Russian Far East, including the western regions of Asia, the Indian sub-continent, Indochina, China, and the southern parts of Indonesia. Today, however, their habitat has been reduced to a mere 7% of that original range.

Sub-species of Tiger

There are nine recognized subspecies of tigers, three of which are now extinct. Different subspecies inhabit different habitats, tropical rainforests, evergreen and temperate forests, and mangrove swamps. The subspecies that are still alive today are the Bengal tiger, Indo-Chinese tiger, South China tiger, Siberian tiger, Sumatran tiger, and Malayan tiger.

Living Subspecies

• The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
• The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) inhabits India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
• The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) lives in China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma.
• The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) is found only in the south of the Malay Peninsula.
• The Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) inhabits south-eastern Russia and northern China. This tiger is also known as the Amur tiger.
• The South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is also known as the Xiamen or Amoy tiger. As the name suggests, this cat is found in the southern region of China.

The Three Extinct Subspecies

The three extinct subspecies are as follows:

• The Javan Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) was found exclusively on the island of Java.
• The Bali Tiger (Panthera tigris balica) lived only on the island of Bali.
• The Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) lived along the west and south of the Caspian Sea and in Central Asia.

Diet

An adult tiger can consume between 35 to 90 pounds of meat in one go. They mainly feed on animals like deer, antelope, and wild pigs. Sometimes they also prey on other predators like leopards and bears. The diet of each subspecies depends on their region.

The tigers in India prefer sambar, barasingha, chital, and nilgai, whereas the Siberian tiger prefers sika deer, moose, and musk deer. Tigers are opportunistic predators and will happily take smaller prey like monkeys, fish, and hares.

Hunting Strategy

Their main hunting hours range between dusk and dawn. Similar to lions, these animals first stalk their prey, and then chase and attack. Killing the prey typically involves a bite on the throat or the nape, and holding onto the neck in order to strangulate the animal. Their great leaping ability helps them greatly in the hunt.

Tiger Habitat & Diet Quiz

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Decrease in Habitat

Competition between tigers and humans for land has given rise to a tiger-human conflict. As the number of wild prey decreases, tigers are forced to attack cattle, sheep, and other livestock. This is why the tiger is sometimes called the cattle-lifter or cattle-killer. That conflict threatens the existing tiger population and puts local people at risk too.

Poaching

Poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts is also a common cause of population decline. These animals are also killed or captured by humans as retaliation for attacking livestock. Often, the reserves created to protect them are poorly organized and underfunded.

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Conservation Status

Unlike the alarming drop in tiger numbers in past decades, recent years have brought outstanding progress in conservation around the world. The tiger population has grown for the first time in 100 years. Looking at specific countries: India is now home to 70% of the world's wild tigers, thanks to a 30% boost in the tiger population in the last 4 years. Deforestation still continues, but conservation efforts have finally begun to overpower it.

Fortunately, tiger numbers are increasing steadily, not only in India, but also in other parts of the world. Conservation activities and a worldwide awareness campaign have finally paid off. This proves that if humans recognize the tiger's importance and take action, there is real hope for the survival of this royal cat.