1. CopyRighted 2009. Philadelphia Zoo.
Tigers
The Siberian Tiger
About the Tiger
The tiger is a member of the Felidae
family; the heaviest of the four “big cats.”
It is native to much of the eastern and
southern parts of Asia. The tiger is an
apex predator and an obligate carnivore.
It can reach up to 13 feet in length and can
weigh up to 660 pounds. The tiger’s most
recognizable feature of the tiger is the
pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays
the near white to reddish orange fur.
Behavior
Tigers are essentially solitary and
territorial animals. Their territory
depends on prey abundance and in
male’s cases, the access to females.
Territories can be up to 20 kilometers.
Relationships are complex, there are
no set rules. Though most tigers avoid
each other, both male and female ti-
gers have been known share kills. Most
males tigers are less tolerable of oth-
er males being in their territory. This
will lead to a fight. If one surrenders
it lays on his back and shows its belly.
Hunting and Diet
Tiger mostly feed on larger and medium
sized animals. Most common animals that
the tigers hunt are Sambar, boar, leop-
ards, pythons, saiga antelope, and cam-
els. Sometimes small animals are taken
as well. The smaller animals that they will
feed on are monkeys, hares, and fish. Oc-
casionally tigers wll eat vegettion for di-
etary fiber, the fruit from the Slow Match
tree is their favorite.
