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 Bengal Tiger |
Bengal Tiger(Mammal) |
 Bengal Tiger Baby |
Bengal Tiger HabitsThe Bengal tiger is most numerous in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans in eastern India and Bangladesh where the River Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. They are also found in other areas of India as well as some parts of Nepal and Burma.
Since Bengal tigers are solitary and do not like to share their hunting grounds, they need large home ranges in which to hunt. Males occupy about 20 square miles, while females typically require 17 square miles. A tiger usually has several dens in its home range and uses whichever one is most convenient at the time. |
Bengal Tiger CommunicationIn captivity, tigers make a noise called a chuff as a greeting when they are happy. This is a gentile puffing sound tigers make by rapidly expelling air through their noses. In the wild, they make this noise while communicating with other tigers, especially their mothers and siblings.
Roaring is another integral method of communication. A roar from a tiger acts as a warning to other tigers, animals and humans to keep their distance. Sometimes a roar can be used to bring another tiger closer, as roars are utilized also for long range communication. A roar can be heard up to two miles away.
Other forms of snarls and growls act as warnings as well. Mothers will often softly moan to their cubs to call them. Also, "prusten" is a specific, low intensity call used by mothers to interact with their cubs, or between tigers during courtship.
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Bengal Tiger BreedingBengal tigers usually breed in the spring. A neighboring male will mate with a female in her home range. Of the 20-80 days he remains with her, she is fertile for only 3-7 days. After mating, the male returns to his home range and plays no part in rearing the cubs.
Approximately 15 weeks later, the tigress gives birth to two to four cubs. She suckles them for 8 weeks, after which she brings them prey to eat as well. At 11 months, the cubs can hunt on their own. The tiger cubs stay with their mother for 2-3 years, at which time she is ready to mate again. |
Bengal Tiger Food & FeedingBengal tigers are nocturnal: they hunt at night. Though powerful and quick over short distances, they stalk their prey because they cannot outrun faster prey. The tiger kills small prey with a bite on the back of the neck and large prey with a bite to the throat.
Tigers mainly hunt gaur (wild ox) and buffalo. Although a tiger is capable of killing a bull gaur more than twice its size, it prefers to attack young or old animals that put up less resistance.
In the Sundarbans region of India and Bangladesh, the tiger's prey are chital (axis deer), wild boar, and monkeys. Tigers will sometimes attack porcupines. |
Bengal Tiger Key Facts |
| Size |
| Height: Males, 9-10 feet length, head to tip to tail, and 35 to 43 inches in height at the shoulders. |
| Weight: Average weight for males is 488 pounds and females average 308 pounds. |
| Breeding |
| Sexual maturity: 3-4 years |
| Mating: Usually in spring |
| Gestation: 95-112 days |
| Number of young: 2-4 cubs |
| Lifestyle |
| Habit: Solitary and nocturnal |
| Diet: Chital, wild boar, monkeys, gaur, buffalo |
| Lifespan: 15 years under normal conditions |
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