Fun Facts About The Tiger
The tiger is a magnificent animal and whilst its cousin the lion is commonly referred to as the king of the jungle it is really the tiger who reigns supreme. Here are some fun facts about tigers.
- In the cat family, the tiger is the biggest species
- Tigers can weigh up to 300 kilograms and can grow to a length of 3.3 meters.
- There are a number of sub species of the tiger that used to be found throughout Eurasia including in Siberia, Sumatra, Bengal, Malaysia, Indochina and South China.
- Many of these subspecies however are either extinct or endangered as a result of hunting or human encroachment on tiger habitat.
- 50 per cent of all tiger cubs do not make it beyond two years of age.
- Tiger cubs stay with their mother for the first two years after which they go out on their own.
- A group of tigers is referred to either as a ‘streak’ or an ‘ambush’
- Tigers are excellent swimmers and they have stamina having been known to swim up to 6 kilometers.
- The white tiger is extremely rare and they carry a gene that is found in only 1 in every 10,000.
- Tigers tend to be solitary creatures hunting at night and usually alone.
- Tigers are only successful 10 per cent of the time when they go hunting.
- Tigers are fast and can reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
- Tigers can leap as far as 5 meters
- There are more tigers kept privately as pets than there are found in the wild.