Tigers are descended from civet-like animals called niacis that lived during the
age of the dinosaurs about 60 million years ago (Dang, 1994). These small
mammals, with long bodies and short flexible limbs, evolved over millions of
years into several hundred different species, including cats, bears, dogs and
weasels. About 37 cat species exist today (Dang, 1994). Tigers evolved in
eastern Asia , but it is not exact. Sabre-tooth tigers are not the ancestors of
today's tigers. In fact, sabre-tooth tigers belonged to a separate branch of cat
evolution which became extinct many millions of years ago. The Siberian or Amur
tiger lives primarily in eastern Russia, and a few are found in northeastern
China and northern North Korea. It is estimated that 437-506 Siberian tigers
still exist in the wild (Tilson ,1995). About 490 captive Siberian tigers a re
managed in zoo conservation programs (Tilson, 1995). The South China tiger is
the most critically endnagered of all tiger subspecies. They are found in
central and eastern China. It is estimated that only 20-30 South China tigers
are left in the wild (Dang ,1994). Currently 48 South China tigers live in 19
zoos, all in China (Dang ,1994). The distribution of the Indochinese tiger is
centered in Thailand, and is found in Myanmar, southern China, CAnbodia, Laos,
Vietnam, and penisular Malaysia. About 1,180- 1,790 Indochines tigers are left
in the wild and about 60 live in zoos (Tilson, 1995). Bengal tigers live in
India, and some range through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The
estimated wild population is approzimately 3,060- 4,735 tigers, with about 333
in captivity, primarily in zoos in India (Dang, 1994). White tigers are just
white-colored Bengal tigers. They ae not a separate subspecies of tiger, and
they are no albinos. They have blue eyes, a pink nose, and creamy white fur with
chocolate colored striipes, White tigers are only born when two tigers that both
carry the unusual gene for white coloring mate, Wild white tigers are very rare,
and todayt they can only be seen in zoos. The Sumatrain tiger is found only on
the Indonesian island of Sumatra. About 400-500 wild Sumatran tigers are
believed to exist, primarily inthe island's five national parks (Dang, 1994).
Another 235 Simatran tigers live in zoos around the world (Dang, 1994). Three
tiger subspecies have been considered to become extinct in the past 70 years (Tilson
,1994). The Caspian tiger, known as the Panthera tigris virgata, once ranged in
Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Mongolia, and Central Asiatic area of Russia and
probably went extinct in the 1950's (Tilson, 1995). The Javan tiger, Panthera
tigris sondaica, formerly ranged on the Indonesian island of Java and was last
seen in 1972 (Tilson, 1995). The Bali tiger, Panthera tigris balica, once lived
on Bali, where the last tiger was believed to have been killed in 1937 (Tilson,
1995). Tigers have social behavior. Adult tigers are solitary animal that
establish their territories in areas with enough prey, cover and water to
support them. The hardship of loating prey in tiger habitat makes it more
efficient for tigers to hunt alone. As a result, they do not tend to form social
groups like lions. A female tiger and her cubs are the exception to this, and
will form a family group for 2 to 3 years, until the cubs are able to fend for
themselves (Dang ,1994). The territory of a tiger usually ranges in size from
about 10 to 30 square miles, although the territory of a Siberian tiger may be
as large as 120 square miles (Tilson, 1995). Both male and female tigers spray
bushes and trees along their route with amixture of urine and scent gland
secretions. This is a way of declaring their territory. They also leave marks on
trees, and urinate or leave droppongs in prominent places. Female tigers reach
maturity when they area bout 3 years old and males reach it when they are a year
or so later (Dang, 1994). In temperate climates, a tigress comes into heat only
seasonally , but in tropical climates, she may come int heat throughtout the
year. She signals her readiness with scent marking and locating roars. The brief
act of copulaiton occurs continually for a five day period. Tigers are induced
ovulators, and must be stimualted through frequent copulation in order to become
pregnant. To stimulate ovulation the male tiger's penis has spines. This
explains in part why the female roars and lashes out at the male immediately
following copulation. After mating, the period for tigers is about 103 days (Tilson,
1995). The average litter size of tigers is 2 or 3 cubs (Tilson, 1995). One
usually dies at birth. Tiger cubs are born blind and weigh only about 2 to 3
pounds (Tilson, 1995). They live on their mother's milk for 6-8 weeks before the
female begins taking them to kill in order to feed (Tilson, 1995). They start
making their kills within 18 months of age (Tilson, 1995). Young tigers leave
their mother's range at anywhere from a year and a half to three years of age,
depending on whether the mother has another liter. Females tend to stay closer
to the mother's range than males. Over much of the tiger's broad geographic
range, wild pig, wild cattle and several species of deer are its major prey. All
prey are forest or grassland ungulates that range in size from 65 to 2,000
pounds (Tilson, 1995). Tigers are ambush hunters, stalking their prey,
appproaching as closely as possible. When they are close enough they charge the
animal. They bite the neck or throat of their prey. The neck bite, which affects
the spinal cord, is typically used on small or medium sized prey. The throat
bite that causes suffocation is used on larger animals. After killing their
prey, tigers drag the animal to a safe place so that no one else eats it. They
usually carry their prey in high trees. Typically, wild tigers go wild on fresh
kills, and can eat as much as 40 pounds of meat at one time (Dang, 1994).
Several days may pass before they are hungry enough to hunt again. Although
tiger attacks on humans are unusual, they do sometimes occur. Because the Asian
human population is increasing, farmers and loggers are beginning to use areas
where tigers live. This causes increasing conflicts between tigers and human. It
is thought that most tigers who eat humans are sick or injured and unanble to
kill their prey. Once they have acquired a taste for human beings, they will
keep eating humans. While man- eating tigers are a rarity in most parts of Asia,
they are common in the Sunderbans. No one lives in the magrove forests and
swamps of the Sunderbans. The Sunderban tigers seem to have targeted humans as
prey, and human being attacked are being reported every year. Several different
have been used to combat man-eating tigers in the Sunderbans. One method uses
human dummies fitted with electric wires from car batteries. This method
administers a shock when touched by a tiger. Another method uses a simple mask
of a human face which arw worn on back of your head. This effectively made both
sides of the wearer appear to be the front. This method is used because tigers
usually attack from the behind. While this method seemed to work for several
years, the Sunderban tigers have discovered the trick. In no further discussion,
tigers are very interesting to learn about. Tigers may be dangerous if you
invade their territory. Tigers can be found in open areas and zoos . If you want
to see tigers you should go to a zoo. Tigers are becoming extinct because we are
invading their territories and we should protect them from going extinct because
they are fascinating creatures.