| Bengal
Tigers - Panthera tigris tigris
It is speculated
that approximately 3000 to 4800 Bengal Tigers exist
in the wild today. A majority of these animals live in India, particularly
with-in the Sunderbans (the worlds largest patch of mangrove forest).
However sparse populations do range through Bhuta, Nepal, Bangladesh
and Myanmar. International captive breading programs maintain additional
animals.
The Bengal
Tiger is a large cat! Often approaching the length of its larger
counter part the Siberian
Tiger. Although recorded lengths measure
over 10 feet, the Bengal Tiger is a significantly less massive
cat averaging 400 to 500 pounds. However, a male Bengal Tiger
was killed in 1967 weighing a tremendous 857 pounds!
The Bengal
Tiger is a highly adaptable feline, living in a wide range of
habitats. From the high cold altitudes of the Himalayan forests,
to the hot steamy mangroves of the Sunderbans, the Bengal Tiger
makes it home. Its only requirements being adequate water, cover
and prey.
 Click
Here to listen to their powerful growl
This subspecies
prefers to hunt large prey items like the Samber deer and wild
cattle. The Bengal Tiger has also been observed hunting
and eating
pigs, monkeys, birds and even snakes! Of all of the five living
subspecies, the Bengal Tiger has the worst reputation as a "Man
Eater"! Jim Corbett, the author of Man-Eaters of
Kumaon,
states that no more than three out of one thousand tigers were
guilty of attacking humans. The culprits of human attacks were
in most cases geriatric or injured cats, living in areas with
diminished natural prey. In most cases, the tigers kill adult
male humans traveling last in line amoungst a group. It is standard
practice now for the person last in line to wear a mask with
bold
eyes wide-open staring backwards to hopefully reduce attacks.
This reduces the tiger's ability to stalk the men because it
appears
is if he is looking in both directions. As funny as this mask
wearing technique may seem, when used it has proven to reduce
attacks to zero.
Listed on
Appendix One of CITES, and classified as ENDANGERED, Panthera
tigris tigris needs protection! Continued poaching and habitat
loss must stop. I strongly recommend everyone take the time to
look at the work being done by the WPSI (The Wildlife Protection
Society of India) on the conservation and protection of this species.
For more information on Tigers, go to 5
Tigers.org . The most comprehnsive tiger website!
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