Interesting Facts About Siberian Tiger

Siberian tigers are massive carnivores living in the earth's coldest areas. Siberian tiger or Amur, the world's largest cat, is an endangered species today. These magnificent animals are mostly found in southeastern Russia nowadays. Their number in China and Korea has reduced a lot because of illegal poaching. It is estimated that around 350 - 400 tigers are left in the wild and 490 are there in zoos.

Facts about Siberian Tigers

These burly creatures can weigh up to 850 pounds and are about 10 to 12 feet in length. The average weight of a Siberian tiger is about 400 to 650 pounds. Their height measures 3 to 3½ feet till the shoulders when in a standing position. The skin color of Siberian tigers is pale-orange with black colored stripes. White Siberian tigers have chocolate colored stripes lined against their white coat. Maturity is reached between the age of 3 to 5 years and they have no particular mating season. The gestation period ranges between 3 to 3½ months. The cubs are born blind and therefore protected by the mothers in their early days for about 8 weeks; after which they roam around accompanying her. At the age of 1 year, they assist their elder ones in hunting. They are full grown at the age of 3 years, which is when they start hunting on their own. An interesting fact about the Siberian tiger is that it can jump as far as 23 feet.

What do Siberian tigers eat?

Siberian tigers need 20 pounds of meat for their daily diet. They primarily eat deer, elk, and wild pigs. Monkeys, fowls, frogs and fish form their diet in times of food scarcity. On an average, only 1 out of their 10 hunting attempts are successful. As per records, a tiger is known to have traveled more than 600 miles in search of food. A full grown tiger can eat even 200 pounds of meat in a single day, and as much as 100 pounds at one sitting. It uses the method of 'ambush' while hunting. Although these tigers run with great speed, they need to come within 30 to 80 feet distance of their prey in order to launch an attack.

Siberian Tiger Habitat

These tigers prefer to live a solitary life and have large territories; some of these areas being greater than 4000 square miles. Females generally live in families and take care of their cubs. Originally, these tigers were present in large numbers in Russia, China and Korea; but poaching has brought down their number drastically. Tigers are generally killed to obtain their precious skins, however in China their body parts are used for the preparation of some medicines. Today, the Siberian tiger's habitat is confined only to far eastern Russia.

Some Interesting Facts

• The local people living in Siberia have great respect for these tigers. The Tungusic people refer to the Siberian tigers as 'Old Man' or 'Grandfather', while the Nanai people have named them as 'Amba'.
• Unlike the Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers are rarely man-eaters. Only six incidents of man-eating have been recorded in the whole of the 20th century.
• On December 25th, 2007 a Siberian tiger - 'Tatiana', was gunned down after its escape from a San Francisco zoo. The tiger had killed one person and injured two others.
• There have been incidents of bears being killed by Siberian tigers. It happens only when the ungulate population drops down and the tigers have to search for some alternative food source. Brown bears are more vulnerable to tiger attacks as compared to the black bears. This is due to the brown bears' inability to climb trees.
• Siberian tigers that live in the wild survive for as long as 15 years, but those in captivity have a smaller life span.
• Unlike their orange skinned counterparts, white Siberian tigers live a long life in captivity as compared to that in the wild.
• Siberian tigers can survive heavy frosts.
• In case of a fight, they warn the intruders beforehand by rattling their tail.
• Though the male tiger fights for its territory fiercely, it won't harm an intruder female with cubs.

Preserving the Siberian tiger is the need of the hour. Sincere efforts are needed to protect this strong, yet vulnerable creature. Let's try our best and help in any way possible to save the Siberian tiger!