The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), is one of the 10 largest felines in the world, but also one of the most endangered. This animal that inhabits parts of the Asian continent is as elusive as it is beautiful, hence its constant struggle to escape animal traffickers. We will also talk about one of the most known and studied subspecies of tigers.
In this AnimalPlanet page, we will talk in depth about the Bengal tiger, its origin, its physical characteristics, where it lives and its way of life.
Origin
- Asia
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- India
- Nepal
Origin of the Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is the most abundant tiger subspecies. Originally from Asia, its populations are distributed in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, being in each of these countries an emblematic animal deeply rooted in culture and traditions. In Bangladesh, one of the most famous banknotes is in the image of this sumptuous animal. Currently, these tiger populations are declining, this is due to the destruction and fragmentation of its environment as well as illegal hunting. According to official figures, there would be around 1,500 tigers in the wild.
Find out why the Bengal tiger is endangered? ?
Characteristics of the Bengal Tiger
This majestic mammal follows the ordinary coloring pattern of tigers, a coat of light orange or yellow color covered with vertical lines of black, brown or gray color which, on the tail, become rings. The coat color on the ventral areas of the body and inside the legs is white or cream colored. There is a variation in some specimens of this species that causes the orange coat to be white and the eyes to be blue. These specimens are not albino, they are just another variety of the species, like the black Bengal tiger. Its black color where it should be orange and it's white where it should be black.
This characteristic coat allows the tiger to better camouflage in its environment, as it mimics the areas exposed to light and shade that can be found in tropical jungles. The pattern of dark stripes is unique to each individual and no two Bengal tigers are exactly alike.
Males are larger than females, being able to weigh more than 200 kilograms while females weigh around 140 kilograms. As for size, males end up measuring up to 3 meters (including the tail) and females 2.5 meters.
Bengal Tiger Habitat
The Bengal tiger's habitat is made up of many different types of ecosystems, although one of the characteristics they must all have is the presence of dense vegetation that allows them to camouflage themselves in order to capture its prey. Thus, the Bengal tiger can be found in the deciduous forests of India, the hot and humid forests of Bhutan and the s alt forests and grasslands of the Himalayas.
Discover: What are the differences between the Bengal tiger and the Siberian tiger?
Bengal Tiger Feeding
As a super-predatory carnivore, the Bengal tiger is an excellent hunter.Depending on the region where it lives, the tiger will feed on one species or another, having a preference for medium or large ungulate mammals. Its diet includes animals such as gayal, water buffalo, spotted deer, wild boar and other deer species.
Because it is a large animal, the tiger is not able to chase its prey over long distances, so camouflage and ste alth are its best weapons. They are crepuscular, resting during the day and coming out in search of food at dusk and dawn.
Reproduction of the Bengal tiger
Like other tiger species, this animal is solitary for most of its life, with the exception of the breeding season, which occurs in winter and spring. Sexual maturity is later in males than in females. They will reach it when they are between 4/5 years old and the females will reach it about 1 year before.
After courtship and mating, the male leaves the area and the female will take care of raising the tigon. Gestation lasts about 3 and a half months and they usually have between 1 and 3 young, or even 4 at most. The little ones will spend 2 years with their mother who will protect them and teach them everything they need to know to survive alone. The females stay longer on the mother's territory, even if they will not necessarily interact with her. The males, on the other hand, will move away from the area almost immediately.
Photos of Bengal Tiger - Habitat and Characteristics
