What species and family does the Bengal Tiger belong
to?
The scientific name of a Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger is Panthera
tigris tigris. It falls into the Felidae family and belongs to the Panthera
tigris species.
What are its physical characteristics?
» Male Bengal Tiger
A male Bengal Tiger measures 2.7 to 3.1 m in length and has a weight of 180
to 250 kg. Its maximum skull length ranges between 329 to 378 mm. The
average length and weight of a male tiger is 2.9 m and 220 kg respectively.
The canine teeth of gown ups measure 10.16 cm each.
» Female Bengal Tiger
The
length of a female Bengal Tiger ranges between 2.4 to 2.6 m and its weight
comes around 100 to 160 kg. The maximum skull length of a female measures
between 275 and 311 mm. On an average, a female Bengal Tiger measures 2.5 m
in length and weighs about 140 kg. The canine teeth of large individuals
measure 10.16 cm each.
What constitutes a tiger's diet?
The Royal Bengal Tiger basically preys on wild pig, wild cattle and several
species of deer. It has also been known to prey on young elephants. It
approaches the prey slowly and silently finally pouncing upon it. The Royal
Bengal Tigers mostly hunts during nighttime. During the day , the cover of
the tall 'elephant grass' serves as an excellent camouflage for the feline.
Several cases of tigers bringing a bull tusker. The White Royal Bengal Tiger
also preys on Peacocks and can even climb trees to hunt for primates.
What kind of habitat is needed?
The tiger lives in varied habitats ranging from open jungles, humid
evergreen forests to mangrove swamps. Its preferred habitats include
thickets, long grass and tamarisk shrubs along the rivers. The tiger is
mostly solitary but sometimes can be seen in a group of 3-4. It life span is
18 years in captivity and a few years less in the wild.
What is the degree of protection provided?
The
Bengal Tiger has been conferred upon the privilege of being the national
animal of India. After the execution of the Project Tiger Scheme, there has
been witnessed a drastic increase in the population of wild tigers. The
tiger population of India now records 3500 up from a mere 1200 in the 1970s.
Land developments and poaching are a big threat to this species of Bengal
Tigers.
When does a tiger turn into a man-eater?
A tiger may sometimes turn into a man-eater. There could several possible
reasons behind the menace. An aged, sick and injured tiger when loses the
flexibility and the energy needed to capture the preys, it turn into a
man-eater. The tigers of the Sunderban forests are reported to have been
sick constantly on account of the high content of salt in the water of the
area and they find hunting difficult. The other obvious reason is the easy
and constant access to the Sunderban people while they gather for fishing
and honey collection in the wild. The taste of human flesh may also be taken
into account.
Jim Corbett, in his book “ Maneaters of Kumaon” describes about
the notorious Champawat Tiger who alone devoured 436 people in the early
20th century. The record still remains unsurpassed.
Where are the Tiger Reserves in India located?
The Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), the Kanha National Park
(Madhya Pradesh), the Corbett National Park(Uttar Pradesh), the Dudhwa
National Park (Uttar Pradesh), the Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan),
Sundarban National Park (West Bengal), Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam), the
Nandankanan Zoo (Orissa) and the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary ( Sariska) are
the Tiger Reserves of India.
