Tigers — the self-proclaimed spirit animal of many and also the favorite subject of those seeking a meaningful tattoo. You can find them in the Chinese zodiac, on the big and small screen, and even on your local sports team logo. But aside from their majestic beauty, peculiar striped coat, and fierce reputation, very few people can claim to know many more facts about tigers than the obvious ones.
So what do we really know about tigers? For starters, most people will be surprised to learn that tigers don’t live in Africa. They can instead be found in many Asian countries, especially India. They are considered a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, with about 5,000 tigers left in the wild. But beyond their physical characteristics, cultural significance, and status as an endangered species, there are a ton of other interesting facts about tigers that you probably don’t know — and today, we’re here to let you in on some of the lesser-known but equally fascinating tidbits of tiger facts!
#41
Tigers are known for their love of swimming, which is unusual compared to other cat species. They often go to streams and pools to cool off, and in the wild, they have been observed swimming following a successful hunt.
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#42
There were 9 different types of tigers in the past. Now, there are only 6 left. These are the Bengal, Sumatran, South China, Indochinese, Malayan and Siberian tigers. The other 3 types, the Bali, Caspian, and Javan tigers, no longer exist. Human activity, like industrialization, has affected tigers over time.
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#43
Tigers are more active during the night, as they typically hunt and patrol their territory during this time. They tend to avoid human interaction during the day, which is why they carry out these activities at night.
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#44
There is a swamp forest along the border between Bangladesh and India where the highest number of Bengal tiger attacks on humans have been recorded. About 100 people are killed in this area annually.
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#45
Aside from their distinct stripes, tigers have glands that release unique scents. These glands allow them to mark their territories as their own.
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#46
The tiger’s incisor teeth pick small pieces of meat and feathers off the prey.
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#47
White tigers are rare and used by zoos, circuses, and private owners to make money. These businesses breed white tigers to ensure their cubs are also white. This is dangerous, as it can cause the cubs to have health problems, like crossed eyes and deformed spines, and they are generally more likely to get sick.
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#48
Saber-toothed tigers are now-extinct felids, who many believe were a type of tiger. They became extinct around 10,000 years ago and belonged to a family of cat cousins called Machairodontinae.
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#49
The Indochinese tiger is found in Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. They tend to inhabit forests surrounded by hills and mountains, making it difficult for scientists to study them extensively. Consequently, there is less knowledge about this species compared to others.
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#50
The Malayan Tiger is very similar to the Indochinese tiger and, other than in Malaysia, they can also be found in Thailand.
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#51
The Siberian tiger is the largest subspecies of tiger, with males reaching heights of at least 11 feet and weighing an average of 660 pounds or more. Female Siberian tigers, while typically smaller than males, are still larger than other tiger subspecies.
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#52
The back teeth of a tiger are called carnassials. These teeth are specially shaped to help the tiger cut the meat off its prey, like a knife. The tiger can then swallow large pieces of this cut meat whole.
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#53
Tigers are known to be protective of the prey they have killed and will often cover the carcass with leaves, dirt, grass, or even rocks before leaving to get a drink or move to a different location. Instead of eating at the kill site, they will typically drag the prey into a more secluded area to consume.
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#54
Tigers use two main methods to kill their prey: blood loss and strangulation. They attack the neck, using their sharp teeth to puncture a major artery. This often leads to the prey’s death from blood loss within seconds. If not, the tiger will strangle the prey’s neck until it suffocates.
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#55
While it is commonly believed that white tigers are albino, this is actually not the case. Rather, the white color of these tigers is caused by recessive genes that impact their skin pigmentation, which is slightly different from albinism. Most of the tiger species that have white skin also have blue eyes.
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#56
India has a high concentration of tigers, with 75% of the global population residing in the country. Tourists can even visit locations in India where large groups of tigers can be seen. It was therefore fitting that the tiger was designated as India’s national animal in 1973.
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#57
On the black market, adult tigers can fetch a high price of $10,000, leading to the continuous occurrence of illegal tiger hunting and poaching.
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#58
Tigers can retract their claws back into a protective skin sheath when they are not being used. This is made possible by ligaments that hold the claws in place, which are relaxed when the claws are retracted. This allows the tiger to keep its claws sharp and ready for use and move quietly when stalking prey. This allows the tiger to quickly and efficiently deploy its claws when needed and retract them when they are no longer required.
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#59
Tigers have fewer teeth than other carnivores. For example, dogs have 42 teeth, while tigers only have 30.
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#60
White tigers need a lot of space to live, roam, and hunt, usually around 20 square miles. This helps them to find enough prey to survive. White tigers are easier to see than orange tigers because they stand out more in their surroundings.
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