T IGERS By Iram

C ONTENTS Tigers Tiger types Top cat Lone hunters Family life Threatened by man Saving the tiger Glossary

T IGERS Stunning good looks and a reputation as a ferocious and intelligent hunter has made the tiger both feared and revered by man. Tigers will almost eat anything that moves. Despite being one of the biggest and most feared predators on the planet, tigers are under threat. It might not be too long before there are no wild tigers left in the world.

T IGER TYPES For those that live in the zoos, all the wild tigers live in Asia. Three of eight tiger species have become extinct in the last 70 years. There are only five tigers left in the world now. They are: 1.Siberian 2.Bengal 3.South china 4.Indochinese 5.Sumatran

T OP CAT At over 3 meters long and weighing over 300 kilograms, the Siberian tigers are undisputed heavy weight champions of the big cats. Even the smallest tiger species, the Sumatran tiger is bigger than most types of cats.

W HY STRIPES ? Tigers are easy to identify by their colouring. Most usually have dark stripes. Tigers probably have stripes to help keep them camouflaged. Stripes help tigers hide in forests and swamps they live in.

L ONE HUNTERS Most adult tigers live alone. They establish a territory with enough, water, cover, and prey to sustain them. Tigers mark borders of their territory by scratching trees and spraying a scent.

F AMILY LIFE When a female turns three, she is ready to have cubs. She leaves distinctive scent markings and roars to alert the local male. Male tigers are not great fathers, they leave the female to raise the cubs alone.