Every single person who sees it is captivated! But they could become extinct in the next 20 years. The tiger is the world’s largest, most powerful, well-known, and magnificent wild cat. Its striking, unique black stripes easily distinguish it from lions and panthers.
As an umbrella species, this charismatic animal protects other species, contributing to the ecosystem’s sustainability.
This massive cat is revered as a deity or guardian in Asian cultures. Unfortunately, today they are valued only for their bodily parts. Tigers are one of the most endangered big cats due to the unabated demand for their body parts. They have lost 85% to 93% of their habitat land and 96% of their population in the last 100 years.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Official estimate
Armenia
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Azerbaijan
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Bangladesh
Bhutan
Cambodia
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China
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China
China
Hong Kong
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India
Indonesia
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Indonesia
Iran
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Iraq
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Kazakhstan
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Kyrgyzstan
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Laos
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Malaysia
Mongolia
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Myanmar
Nepal
North Korea
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Pakistan
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Russia
Singapore
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Tajikistan
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Thailand
Turkey
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Turkmenistan
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Ukraine
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Uzbekistan
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Vietnam
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Recent updates
April 2023: According to a recent census, India’s wild tiger population, which is the largest in the world, has surpassed 3,000 individuals. This increase is significant for the conservation of endangered species. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his pride, hailing this milestone as a significant moment for India.
Dec 2022: In the US, the Big Cat Public Safety Act has been approved. This act aims to combat the illegal trading of tiger parts and products, a major factor contributing to the endangerment of wild tigers. Furthermore, it will guarantee the safety of big cats held in captivity and the public by regulating the ownership of big cats with a federal permit.
July 2022: Nepal has seen a dramatic increase in its wild tiger population, with numbers almost tripling since 2009. In line with this, tiger range countries met to begin discussions on the next 12-year commitments for tiger conservation under the Global Tiger Recovery Program.
Did you know?
- Out of 8 subspecies, 3 had already been extinct, of which one is functionally extinct in the wild,
- The rising demand for tiger parts has resulted in the establishment of truly dystopian places such as tiger breeding farms, which actively produce and slaughter tigers for their parts, and has fueled illegal traffic.
- The 13 Tiger Range Countries adopted a Global Tiger Recovery Program in November 2010 during a Tiger Summit in St Petersburg, Russia. By 2022, the intention was to double the population of wild tigers.
- Tigers are excellent swimmers thanks to their partially webbed toes.
- No two tigers have the same stripes.
- Many mammals are dichromatic, and see fewer colors that humans. This is why the Tiger’s camouflage works on them.
- Tigers evolved from a catlike animal called miacid, which lived sixty million years ago and ate insects!
- They may be heard roaring from three kilometers (almost 2 miles) away.
- Tigers feed on hoofed animals and sometimes even other predators like leopards, crocodiles, and bears.
- Their urine smells like buttered popcorn.
Anything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
Tiger on banknotes
