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Bengal Tiger

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iBengal Tiger

Image:Panthera tigris.jpg

Conservation status

Image:Status iucn3.1 VU.svg
Vulnerable (VU)

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Panthera
Species:	P. tigris
Subspecies:	P. t. tigris

Trinomial name

Panthera tigris tigris
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Bengal tiger or Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It is the most common tiger subspecies, and lives in a variety of habitats - grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangroves. Its fur is orange-brown with black stripes, although there are also white tigers.

1 Physical characteristics
2 Distribution
3 Diet
4 Threats
5 Habitat
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] Physical characteristics

Male Bengal tigers measure 2.7 to 3.1 m (8.9 to 10.2 ft) in length, and weigh 200–295 kg (440–650 lb), and have a maximum skull length of 13 to 15 in (330 to 380 mm). The average male Bengal tiger is approximately 2.9 m (9½ ft) in length and weighs about 220 kg (490 lb).

Female Bengal tigers measure 2.4 to 2.65 m (7.9 to 8.7 ft) in length, weigh 100 to 180 kg (220 to 400 lb), and have a maximum skull length of 275 to 311 mm (10¾ to 12¼ in). The average female Bengal tiger is approximately 2.5 m (8 ft) in length and weighs about 140 kg (310 lb).<ref>Size Variation in Tiger Subspecies. Savethetigerfund.org. Cites Mazák, V. "Panthera tigris". Mammalian Species. The American Society of Mammalogists. No. 152, pp. 1-8. (8 May 1981)</ref>

Tigers have the longest canine teeth of any living felid, approximately 100 mm (4 inches) in large individuals. A canine tooth of tiger is larger and longer than that of a similar-sized lion. Tigers are, like most big cats, solitary animals. Bengal tigers have been noted for their sheer power: One tiger has been observed to drag a gaur kill away that, later on, 13 men together could not move. As a gaur easily weighs 1 short ton or more, the tiger has been able to drag something 5 times its own weight.<ref>Description and Behavior.</ref>

[edit] Distribution

Estimates in 2005 indicate an approximate worldwide population of 4,580:

India: 3,500<ref>BBC</ref> to 3,750 + 332 pure-bred Bengal tigers in captive zoos across India <ref>Indiantiger.org</ref>

Bangladesh: 300 to 440
Nepal: 150 to 220
Bhutan: 50 to 140
China: 30 to 35

[edit] Diet

Image:Panthera tigris tigris.jpg

In the wild, Bengal tigers are pure carnivores and hunt medium-sized and large-sized animals, such as rabbits, water buffalo, deer, goat, wild boar and gaur.<ref name="BBC"> "Brave wife 'fends off' big tiger". BBC news. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.</ref> They are also known to prey on peacocks and can climb trees to hunt primates. Tigers have also been known to prey on young elephants and rhino calves. Typically, tigers do not prey on adult elephants or rhinos but one such case has been documented where the WWF is taking care of an orphaned rhino whose mother was killed by a tiger. Bengal Tigers have also been known to take other predators such as leopards, wolves, crocodiles and dholes as prey, although these predators are not typically a part of the tiger's diet. Bengal tigers prefer to hunt mostly by night. During the day, the cover of the tall "elephant grass" gives the feline excellent camouflage. Tigers kill prey by overpowering their victim and severing the spinal cord (preferred method for smaller prey), or applying a suffocation bite for large prey. A Bengal tiger will usually drag its kill to a safe place to eat.<ref name="BBC"> "Brave wife 'fends off' big tiger". BBC news. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.</ref> Despite their size, Bengal tigers can climb trees effectively, but they are not as adept as the smaller leopard, which hides its kills from other predators in the trees. Bengal tigers are also adept and frequent swimmers, often ambushing drinking or swimming prey or chasing after prey that has retreated into water. The Bengal tiger can consume up to about 18 kg (40 lb) of meat at a time and then go without eating for days.<ref name="BBC"> "Brave wife 'fends off' big tiger". BBC news. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.</ref>

[edit] Threats

Habitat loss and poaching are important threats to species survival. Poachers kill tigers not only for their pelts, but also for components to make various traditional East Asian medicines. Other factors contributing to their loss are urbanization and revenge killing. Revenge killing occurs as locals such as farmers who own livestock hunt down tigers to prevent them from preying on their cattle. Poachers also kill tigers for their bones and teeth to make medicines that are alleged to provide the tiger's strength.

[edit] Habitat

The Bengal tiger is now strictly protected, and is the national animal of both Bangladesh and India. After the resounding success of the tiger conservation program in India known as Project Tiger, the population of wild tigers has increased dramatically. The tiger population of India has reached about 3,500, up from 1,200 in the 1970s. In the Sundarbans, a 2004 census found the presence of about 280 tigers on the Bangladesh side. But from the late eighties and the early nineties the tiger population has suffered a setback due to habitat destruction and the large scale poaching of these animals for their skins and bones. The Indian government tries hard to show the world that the tiger is thriving in India often using faulty and controversial techniques like taking moulds of paw prints to track tiger populations. But it was found out recently that the tiger was wiped out from one of Project tiger's leading sanctuaries;Sariska, much to the embarassment of the government. The actual tiger population in India could be lower than 1000. And the sooner the officials recognize this fact and take drastic steps the better the chances for the survival of the tiger. Otherwise this magnificent animal doomed to go extinct