All About Tigers

Source: WWF 

The tiger, or Panthera tigris, is one of the magnificent and powerful beasts in the animal kingdom. It is undoubtedly a majestic big cat with impressive strength, magnificent beauty, and grace that has thrilled humankind at first glance. One of the distinctive features of the tigers is their orange fur with black stripes, which covers the body of an animal. Actually, it serves perfectly as camouflage against the background of the environment. These strips act like fingerprints and are peculiar to each particular individual.

This long article exposes many facets of the tigers. We shall start with its taxonomy—the diachronic emergence of the classification of subspecies belonging to this wonderful animal. The genus Panthera includes tigers, lions, leopards, and jaguars. Further classification of tigers in this genus separates them into a number of subspecies based on geographic distribution and morphological characteristics. Some of these subspecies include the Bengal tiger, Siberian tiger, Indochinese tiger, Malayan tiger, South China tiger, Sumatran tiger, Caspian tiger, and Javan tiger.

We’ll go over the anatomical features of tigers, from their muscular build to their fearless dentition and retractile claws, which served just perfectly for performing the role of apex predator. On a larger scale, tigers also inhabit very extensive habitats—from dense tropical forests of Southeast Asia to temperate forests and mangrove swamps.

Behaviorally, tigers are solitude-seeking and territorial animals with complicated social structures and hunting strategies. Being at the top of the food chain, tigers achieve their hunting success by stealth and power in ambushing their prey. Their diet consists mainly of large ungulates.

The tiger’s status is already very serious, classified by the IUCN as endangered. Their habitats are under threat; they are killed due to poaching, human-wildlife conflicts, and climatic change. By the same token, however, well-focused conservation efforts on different levels and international cooperation, together with community engagement, do bring hope.

Finally, we will talk about the cultural significance that tigers have as symbolic animals for power, courage, and beauty in so many societies, and sum up with a description of the various efforts currently under way to ensure their survival.

Taxonomy and Evolution

Male tiger in Kanha National Park, India
Source: WWF

The tiger, Panthera tigris, belongs to the genus Panthera that also hosts lions, leopards, and jaguars. Genus Panthera is part of the Felidae family, which consists of domestic cats and the largest of the wild cats. The evolutionary history and classification indicate just how complicated and interesting the history of the tigers was, eventually leading to a variety of subspecies adapted to their particular ecological niches.

The eight known subspecies of tigers are:

1. Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris): The Bengal tiger inhabits largely in India, and the small populations are found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. It happens to be the most numerous of all tiger subspecies, with estimates of a population of about 2,500 individuals in the wild. The Bengal tiger occurs within varied ecosystems, which include grasslands, tropical and subtropical rainforests, and Sundarbans mangrove forests. This subspecies is large; males average around 500 pounds, females about 300 pounds.
2. Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti): This subspecies exists in areas of Southeast Asia, namely in the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. The Indochinese tiger is smaller and darker than the Bengal tiger, and has short, narrow stripes. These tigers predominantly inhabit far-flung forests and mountainous regions. The population of Indochinese tigers is critically low, with less than 350 individuals existing in the wild, mainly because of large-scale habitat loss and poaching.
3. Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni): Malayan tigers are native to the Malay Peninsula and were only recently distinguished as a separate subspecies in 2004. This brings the number of tiger subspecies to the smallest, where males weigh approximately 220-310 pounds and females approximately 165-242 pounds. The Malayan tigers mostly occupy the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of southern Malaysia. It is critically endangered with only an estimated 250 to 340 individuals existing in the wild.
4. Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): The subspecies of the Tiger is also known as the Amur tiger. It happens to be the largest of the different tiger subspecies. Siberian tigers reside in the Russian Far East; this would be majorly in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range, with small populations inhabiting China and North Korea. The males can weigh as much as 700 pounds and reach up to 11 feet in length. It has a thicker coat with a layer of fat to insulate its body in the cold and harsh climate of the place. The population of the Siberian tiger is estimated to be around 500 in the wild.
5. South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis): Considered critically endangered and most likely extinct in the wild, as there has not been any sighting since the 1990s, the South China tiger used to spread in central and southern parts of China. The subspecies is now being conserved by captive breeding programs, where about 100 individuals are kept captive. The South China tiger is one of the smallest subspecies, with males weighing about 330 pounds and females about 240 pounds.
6. Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae): This is the smallest of the tiger subspecies and is only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The males weigh around 220 to 310 pounds while females weigh around 165 to 243 pounds. The colour of the coat is at its darkest shade, and the Sumatran tiger has the broadest stripes of all the subspecies of tigers, which blend into the dense, tropical forests these animals occupy. The population is critically endangered with less than 400 individuals remaining in the wild.
7. Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata): The Caspian Tiger, otherwise known as the Hyrcanian Tiger, dwelled in the Caspian Sea surroundings and covered areas in Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia. It was thought to have gone extinct by the 1970s due to habitat loss and overhunting. Based on genetic studies, it was the closest relative of the Siberian tiger in that it showed almost similar characteristics in its morphology and in adaptive behavior in relation to the environment.
8. Javan Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica): The Javan tiger inhabited the Indonesian island of Java and became extinct in the mid-20th century. A Javan tiger was last recorded to occur during the 1970s. This subspecies was driven to extinction because of habitat loss, human poaching, and competition for food. A Javan tiger was rather small; males weighed from 220 to 310 pounds, while females weighed from 170 to 250 pounds.

The evolution of the tiger.
Source: Pugdundee Safaris

Closely linked to the history of its sister taxon in the genus Panthera is the evolutionary history of the tiger. Thus, the precursors to the present-day tiger most likely emerged in northern Eurasia during the Pleistocene, two million years ago. Accordingly, as evidenced by fossil records, these early large felines must have dispersed southwards into Asia, Africa, and the Americas to gradually give birth to the different Panthera species we see today.

According to genetic studies, the closest living relatives of the tiger are the snow leopard and the jaguar. Their divergence from the common ancestor with tigers dates back to approximately 2.88 million years ago. During this period, there were dramatic changes in the climate and an increased expansion of grasslands, which most likely had an effect on the adaptation and distribution of the big cat family.

As long ago as their ancestors spread throughout Asia—from the dense, tropical Southeast Asia forests to the cold, temperate forests of Siberia—the tigers had been adapting to different environments. This led to a number of distinct subspecies, each best suited to its particular environment. For instance, because the Siberian tiger’s homeland has hard winters, the animal developed a thicker coat with a layer of fat that would help in enduring those harsh conditions. The Sumatran tigers, on their part, evolved a more agile and quiet constitution to move around these dense and tropical forests in Sumatra.

Although the fossil record of tigers is scant, some excellent finds at certain sites have thrown considerable light on their evolutionary history. The fossils of a prehistoric tiger species, Panthera zdanskyi, found in China, date back to about two million years ago and are considered one of the earliest known ancestors of the modern tiger. Another significant discovery is the fossil of the extinct subspecies Panthera tigris trinilensis that lived in the early Pleistocene period in what is now Indonesia.

Physical Characteristics

Tigers can see 6 times better than humans at night.
Source: Pugdundee Safaris

Tigers are the largest members of the cat family, with great variation in size among the different subspecies. Their look is characteristic with bright orange fur and a black striped coat. Oddly, though, those stripes are as distinct as human fingerprints and also turn out to be a brilliant form of camouflage in their habitat.

Size and Weight

Tigers are huge, depending on the subspecies and habitat. For instance, a male Bengal tiger can weigh between 220 and 660 pounds (100 to 300 kg) and grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length—which also includes the tail. A Siberian Tiger, the largest sub, can grow to an unbelievable 700 pounds (318 kg) and 11 feet (3.3 meters) in size.

Color and Markings

In color, the background coat coloring ranges from light cream to orange with white fur in the bellies and the insides of the legs and black stripes whose widths, lengths and spacing are all the same to cover the skin running lengthwise. White tigers, caused by a genetic mutation of the Bengal tiger, are white in color, unlike their kin, who range in color from red to brown with blue eyes and are born with black or brown stripes. Thus, the chief function of the stripes is a form of camouflage. The vertical stripes enable tigers to blend into their forested environment, disrupting their outline to make it difficult for prey to see them. This is called disruptive coloration and works particularly well under forest light, where the patterns of changeable light and dark form through shadows and shafts of light.

Skull and Dentition

That the tiger has a very strong skull combined with powerful jaw muscles allows it to deliver a killing bite. This includes sizable canine teeth that reach up to 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) in length and which they use to grip and kill their prey. Further to the back in the mouth are the carnassial teeth that are developed for the shearing of flesh.

Limbs and Claws

Tigers have strong muscular limbs with large paws and sharp, curved retractile claws favorable for holding onto prey and climbing. The hind legs are longer than the front ones, giving a tiger incredible leaping ability.

Habitat and Distribution

Tigers’ distribution across Asia.
Source: Asian Tigers Group

Tigers are highly adaptable and thus inhabit a great variety of environments: from tropical rain forests to mangrove swamps, grasslands, and temperate forests. Historically, tigers inhabited most of Asia, from Turkey in the west to the far eastern coast of Russia. This has now shrunk considerably due to large-scale habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

Current Range

Today, tigers inhabit isolated pockets of South and Southeast Asia, and small populations in the Russian Far East and China. The biggest single contiguously surviving population of tigers occupies the Indian subcontinent, particularly the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of India.

Preferred Habitats

Tigers require big home territories with adequate prey, water sources, and cover for stalking and hunting. They are more interested in dense forests where they can easily hide to ambush their prey. In the Sundarbans mangrove forests of India and Bangladesh, Bengal tigers have adapted to a unique coastal environment.

Home Range

The size of the home range for a tiger depends on the availability of its prey and the density of the tiger population. The male tigers usually have big territories compared to the females, generally overlapping the territories of quite a few females. Home ranges may be as small as 20 square miles (50 square kilometers) in rich prey areas and as large as over 400 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) where prey is sparse.

Behavior and Social Structure

Tiger raising its cubs.
Source: Asian Tigers Group

Tigers are solitary and territorial animals with a complex social structure and behavior. Unlike lions, which stay together in pride, tigers are generally solitary—only coming together for mating and raising their cubs.

Territoriality

Tigers are highly territorial animals, and this they demarcate by scent marking. Urine, feces, and other glandular secretions help them stain trees, rocks, and other conspicuous features within their territory. These scent marks will bring out information regarding the presence of an individual and its reproductive status to other tigers.

Communication

Communication is achieved in tigers through vocalizations, body expressions, and scent marking. One of the loudest ways that a tiger communicates vocally is by roaring. This is used to mark territories, attract mates, or show distress. Other kinds of vocalizations include growling, chuffing—a friendly greeting sound—and moaning.

Hunting and Diet

Tigers are the apex predators and primarily hunt large ungulates, such as deer, wild boar, and buffalo. They are ambushers; in their hunting style, there is stealth and camouflage, followed by a powerful attack. A bite to the throat or to the nape of the neck by a tiger, which severs the spinal cord or brings death by suffocation, is the usual killing method.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Tigers attain sexual maturity between 3 to 4 years of age. Mating may occur around the year but often there is a peak during winter and spring months. After a gestation period of about 3.5 months, the female gives birth to a litter of 2 to 4 cubs. At birth, the cubs are blind and helpless, dependent entirely upon their mother for food and protection. Solid food is taken at about 2 months of age, and hunting skills are acquired through observational learning by the mother. By the time they are 2-3 years old, cubs become independent and disperse to establish their own territories.

Conservation Status and Threats

Tigers’ population is declining.
Source: ResearchGate

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed tigers as endangered. Their populations have been reduced tremendously during the course of the past century. They remain, estimated at 3,900 individuals left in the wild. Several factors contribute to the decline of tiger populations, among them habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change.

Habitat Loss

Fast-growing human populations and agriculture have resulted in large-scale destruction of tiger habitats and their fragmentation. Deforestation, infrastructure development, and land conversion for agriculture reduces the available habitat not only for the tigers themselves but also for their prey.

Poaching and Illegal Trade

Each part of the tiger’s body has a separate market in illegal trade.
Source: WWF

With the high value of tigers’ parts for traditional medicine and as status symbols, this has made them the overwhelming victims of poachers. Illegal tiger-bone and skin trading among other parts still holds as one of the greatest threats to their survival.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

As human populations continue to advance into the core habitats of tigers, tigers and humans come into increasing conflict with each other. These conflicts sometimes lead to retaliatory killing of tigers by local communities following attacks on livestock or humans by tigers.

Climate Change

Rising sea levels and changed climatic weather patterns continue to further threaten the habitats of tigers, particularly the low-lying coastal ones like in Sundarbans. These could result in habitat loss and reduce the availability of prey.

Conservation Efforts

An old tiger being rescued at Chitwan National Park
Source: National Trust for Nature Conservation

Efforts in tiger conservation range from the protection of habitats and anti-poaching to community engagement and international cooperation. The local communities, civil societies, and governments are working hard day and night for the salvation of these magnificent species.

Protected Areas

One of the most integral parts of tiger conservation is the establishment and maintenance of protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. These provide a safe haven for tigers and their prey, free from human disturbances. The famous protected areas for tigers are the Ranthambore National Park in India, Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and the Russian Far East’s Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve.

Anti-Poaching Measures

Anti-poaching activities should be stepped up to handle the illegal trade of parts derived from tigers. Activities such as training and equipping forest guards, improvement in surveillance and patrolling, and using technology in the form of camera traps and drones for monitoring of tiger populations that deter poachers are some of these measures.

Community Engagement

Involvement of local communities is the key for ensuring long-term success of tiger conservation. Activities providing sustainable livelihoods and mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, along with increasing awareness about tigers, may generate positive attitudes towards their conservation. For example, the Tiger Conservation Units in India have sought collaboration with communities to protect habitats and reduce conflicts.

International Cooperation

The tigers straddle across international borders; therefore, it is impossible not to be supportive of international cooperation in their conservation. The countries having the range of the tigers must cooperate in transboundary conservation efforts that involve joint patrols, sharing data, and coordination of anti-poaching operations. Global Tiger Initiative was launched in 2008 to bring together governments, conservation organizations, and international partners working to achieve the goal of doubling the wild tiger population by 2022.

Contribution of Asian Tigers Group

Asian Tigers has collaborated with WWF to support tiger conservation.
Source: Asian Tigers Group

The Asian Tigers Group is a world-class moving company and relocation business, and this company has also played a part in making sure that tigers survive. Under corporate social responsibility, the Asian Tigers have offered support to various projects on conservation and campaigns to create awareness about tigers. They have allied themselves with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund to help drive efforts to double the number of wild tigers in existence by the year 2022. This will consist of financial contributions, employee engagement programs, and awareness campaigns to bring focus to the plight of tigers and the actual importance of their conservation effort.

Cultural Significance

Tiger has been prevalent in Korean culture for a long time.

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Norway

Tigers hold a great deal of cultural significance with many societies; mainly symbolizing powerful, courageous, beautiful, mythical, and folklore creatures. They feature prominently in Asian cultures, deeply rooted in mythology, folklore, art, and literature.

Mythology and Folklore

In Hindu mythology, he is the mount of Goddess Durga, who is visualized as mounted on a tiger or lion. Durga signifies strength and protection, and he who mounts her, the tiger, signifies power and fearlessness. Association with the divine in this way lends further credence to the status of the tiger as being the most powerful symbol of divine might in Indian culture.

The tiger is one of the twelve animals representing the zodiac cycle in Chinese culture. It denotes the attribute of strength, bravery, and protection. The Year of the Tiger is a time for prosperity and courage. The tiger also guards against the three disasters: fire, thieves, and ghosts. Traditionally, it often appeared in arts and folklore as a symbol of power and awe.

One finds the tale of Dangun, the legendary founding father of Korea, born from a woman who changed from a tiger in Korean folklore. This story speaks of the respect the tiger commands and the deep bond it shares with the history of Korea. Indeed, the tiger is also at the very heart of the majority of Korean folk tales and proverbs that stand as a symbol for power and protection.

Art and Literature

For so many centuries, tigers have captured the imagination and artists of the world alike in literature and painting. Traditional Asian art depicted the tiger in paintings, sculptures, and even in textiles that characterized the majesty of appearance and symbolism of power and grace for the animal.

The tiger has found a place as the protagonist of modern literature in Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi,” whereby it delves into themes of survival and the rapport shared between man and animal. The story’s protagonist, Pi, shares a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, and their complicated relationship forms the heart of the narrative. This is a novel about the basic instincts of man and beast that come into play with the power and beauty of the tiger.

National Symbols

The tiger is the national animal of India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and South Korea. The tiger has also become the national symbolism for the cultural heritage and natural beauty of these countries. First of all, the Bengal tiger in India symbolizes the wildlife and conservation efforts taken by the country. In Bangladesh, the Sundarbans—the habitat of the Bengal tiger—is also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, thus adding significance to the placing or ranking of the tigers within the nation’s natural heritage.

The Malayan tiger in Malaysia is an excellent emblem of national pride in conservation; commitment towards the preservation of natural habitats closely links with the protection of this endangered species. South Korea greatly respects the tiger, often describing it in their art and folklore as a guardian or some kind of brave symbolic interpretation.

The Future of Tigers

Tiger’s population is on the rise, thanks to conservation efforts.

Source: TNPSC

Against all odds, there is still some hope for the tigers. Conservation efforts have borne fruit in certain areas, and recovery signals of the tigers are showing. Success stories from India, Nepal, and Russia do point out that when efforts unite, it is not impossible to arrest the decline of tigers and even increase their numbers.

Success Stories

With India having the largest population of wild tigers, the country has actually evolved some very good practices in conservation that have paid off in terms of a steady increase in the number of tigers. Project Tiger was initiated in the year 1973 in this country, which played a huge role in the protection of tiger habitats and decreased poaching.

Another famous success story in tiger conservation is Nepal, more than doubling its population within a decade. According to a report by the Asian Tigers Group, the nation increased its wild tigers from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022. This was due mainly to effective anti-poaching operations, habitat restoration, and strong community involvement. Efforts taken up by Nepal in the form of a peripheral buffer zone creation around national parks and engaging local communities in the activities of conservation have led to creating an example for model sustainability for the conservation of tigers, balancing ecological needs with the local livelihoods. 

Long-term habitat protection and robust anti-poaching enforcement have done much to stabilize the Amur tiger population in Russia’s Far East. According to an Asian Tigers Group report, the stabilization of the Amur tiger population is a milestone achievement in its own right. Government and conservation collaborative efforts have made these tigers, once teetering on the brink of extinction, competitive for survival. Indeed, specific programs, such as the Amur Tiger Center, have taken a leading role in anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and establishment of protected areas. These have returned an increase in the population of tigers, which gives hope to many regarding this species.

Challenges Ahead

Despite these successes, tigers still face a host of challenges. Ensuring tigers have a long-term future will require sustained commitment and resources. Critical areas for further work in the future will include extending and linking protected areas, resolving human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and adapting conservation strategies for the impacts of climate change.

Role of Technology

Technology has an increasingly prominent role in the conservation of tigers. Camera traps, GPS collars, drones—all of these devices provide very useful data related to tiger populations and their movements. Such tools aid in monitoring and conservation of tigers, making it easier for conservationists to act promptly on threats and make informed decisions.

Conclusion

The tiger, the very essence of vigour and beauty, continues to be an inspiration to the people across the globe. Though the threats to the very existence of tigers loom large, there is yet some hope. All that needs to be done is to dedicate efforts of conservation, ensure international cooperation, and involve the community to guarantee that these majestic beings continue to roam the wild in times to come.

We are trying to save a species, the rich biodiversity of their homes, and the cultural heritage that they possess. The fight to save the tiger is a fight to save the natural world and our place in it. As stewards of the planet, we owe this to continued echoes of the tiger’s roaring in forested landscapes throughout Asia.

References

1. National Geographic. (2023). Tigers 101.
2. National Geographic. (2024). Tigers in the Sundarbans.
3. Pugdundee Safaris. (2024). Evolution of Tigers.
4. World Wildlife Fund. (2022). Tiger.
5. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. (2022). Tiger.
6. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2021). Panthera tigris (Tiger).
7. Panthera. (2022). Tiger.
8. Save the Tiger Fund. (2021). Tigers.
9. BBC Wildlife Magazine. (2021). Tiger.
10. National Tiger Conservation Authority. (2024). Project Tiger.
11. Asian Tigers Group. (2021). Securing a Future for Wild Tigers.

More Readings: 

Conservation Story 1: Behind the Lens: Seeing Stripes In The Forest

Conservation Story 2: 5 Roaring Wins Last Year and What This Means for Tigers in 2018

Conservation Story 3: Are Protected Areas Safe for Tigers?

Conservation Story 4: How Do Tiger Supporters Connect to Earth?

Conservation Story 5: Sumatran Tiger Family

Conservation Story 6: Nepal Nearly Doubles Its Number of Wild Tigers

Conservation Story 7: Eliminating Blood Honey

Conservation Story 8: Share Our Planet

Conservation Story 9: Two Grown-up Tiger Cubs are Moving to the Northwest of Tiger Range

Conservation Story 10: Captured on Camera: Wild tiger Hunts World’s Largest Bovine in Thailand

Conservation Story 11: Trailing Tigers to New Heights

Conservation Story 12: Asia’s Snaring Crisis Poses Grave Threat to Wild Tigers

Conservation Story 13: Captured images of Malayan tiger cubs in the wild shows promising sign

Conservation Story 14: Learnings from Over 100 Tiger Conservation Areas

Conservation Story 15: The Truth about White Tigers

Conservation Story 16: Dozens of Tigers Rescued in Viet Nam’s Major Illegal Wildlife Busts

The Tiger’s Roar Grows Louder: Conservation Success and What it Means for Sustainability

Securing a Future for Wild Tigers: Asian Tigers Singapore’s Commitment to Conservation

Honoured to Support ‘Love-The-Last March’ Project

How are Camera Traps Used in Conservation of Tigers?

Double Wild Tigers by 2022 with Everyone’s Help

Doubling Wild Tigers with Asian Tigers Group

How Do Our Employees Think of the WWF TX2 Program?

The Hidden Tigers of Southeast Asia

The Hidden Tigers of Southeast Asia (Part 2)

The Hidden Tigers of Southeast Asia (Part 3)

Restore the Roar!