Meet the Animal Park's Tigers

NATIVE RANGE

Listed as endangered (around 5,000 are estimated in the wild), tigers are found mainly in the forests of tropical Asia, with some in Russia’s Far East. Less than 10 percent of their historical range remains.

DIET

They mainly consume deer, antelope, wild pigs, and cattle. Since they are opportunistic predators, their diet also may include birds, fish, rodents, amphibians, and reptiles, in addition to other mammals such as primates and porcupines.

BEHAVIOR

Tigers are solitary, with adults maintaining exclusive territories or home ranges. These powerful, primarily nocturnal hunters will travel many miles to find prey.

FASCINATING FACTS

• Tigers are the largest wild member of the cat family, weighing up to 660 pounds.
• Their coats serve as camouflage. No two tigers have exactly the same stripes, and these unique patterns appear not only on their coats but also on their skin.
• They need to kill 50–60 large prey animals per year. Hunting isn’t easy; tigers catch their prey only around 1 out of 10 times. A hungry tiger can eat 70 or more pounds of meat in one night, though they usually consume less.
• Unlike many cat species, tigers love the water. They often play, chase prey, and lounge or cool off in the water.