2. Tigers occupy the pinnacle of the food chain and a
healthy tiger population is an indicator of the well
being of the whole forest. Throughout evolution,
predators have had a regulatory influence on the
population sizes of other species; it is thanks to
carnivores, such as tigers, that the number of herbivores
is kept in check. In turn, the populations can therefore
only fluctuate between certain limits because of this
"feedback mechanism
3. A tiger's roar can be heard as far as two miles (three
kilometers) away.
Tigers weigh from 240 to 500 pounds (109 to 227
kilograms); males are larger than females.
4. Species at the top of the food chain are
generally larger and require more space
than other animals, particularly if they
are territorial . Conserving such species in
the wild protects the habitat of many
other animals, as well as safeguarding the
essential ecological processes such as
water and nutrient cycling. Thus the tiger
as the guardian of many other creatures.
Species at the top of the food chain are
generally larger and require more space
than other animals, particularly if they
are territorial . Conserving such species in
the wild protects the habitat of many
other animals, as well as safeguarding the
essential ecological processes such as
water and nutrient cycling. Thus the tiger
as the guardian of many other creatures.
5. The time is now to save these magnificent cats, before they vanish from the
earth forever. There is little time left to preserve these animals, immediate
action is required. The latest predictions state that tigers will be extinct in
the wild by the year 2015. That is less than 12 short years from now. That’s
less then 14 years to save a creature that has been around far longer then
ourselves. I cannot imagine, nor would I wish to live in a world without tigers
... without these magnificent creatures in our forests living free – without
captive populations carrying on the gene pool. The power and beauty of
these animals is indisputable.
Tigers are an integral part of the ecosystem, and a major link in the food
chain. Tigers have been bestowed magical and supernatural properties by
many societies, and have also been revered as gods. All living creatures of
mother earth depend on one another for survival. We as human beings are
brothers and sisters to every living being, from the plants to the animals to
each other.
6. Easily recognized by its coat of reddish-
orange with dark stripes, the tiger is the
largest wild cat in the world. The big cat
weighs up to 720 pounds (363 kilograms),
stretches 6 feet (2 meters) long, and has a
3-foot- (1-meter-) long tail. The powerful
predator generally hunts alone, able to
bring down prey such as deer and
antelope.
7. Tigers have been known to eat up to 60
pounds (27 kilograms) of meat in one
night, but more often they consume about
12 pounds (5 kilograms) during a meal. It
may take days for a tiger to finish eating
its kill. The cat eats until it's full, and
then covers the carcass with leaves and
dirt. When it's hungry again, the tiger
comes back to feed some more, until the
meat is gone.
8. The whole species is endangered
throughout its range. Tigers have been
overhunted for their fur as well as for
other body parts that many people use
in traditional medicines. Tigers' habitat
has also dwindled seriously as humans
have developed land for uses such as
farming and logging.
9. FAST FACTS
The scientific name for the
tiger is Panthera tigris.
There are five subspecies
of tiger: Bengal, South
China, Indochinese,
Sumatran, and Siberian.
Three subspecies of tiger—
Caspian, Bali, and Javan—
are extinct.
10. Tigers that live in cold
northern areas are usually
bigger and heavier than those
that live in tropical habitats.
No two tigers have exactly the
same pattern of stripes.
A tiger retracts its claws as it
walks, leaving no claw marks
in its tracks.
11. Type:
Mammal
Diet:
Carnivore
Average life span in the wild:
8 to 10 years
Size:
Head and body, 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m); tail, 2 to 3 ft (0.6 to 0.9 m)
Weight:
240 to 500 lbs (109 to 227 kg)
Protection status:
Endangered
Did you know?
A tiger's roar can be heard as far as 2 mi (3 km) away.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: