Bengal Tiger
By: Caleb Hanson
April 15, 2013
Classification
COMMON NAME
Bengal tiger
KINGDOM
Animalia
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Felidae
GENUS
Panthera
SPECIES
Tigris
Physical Characteristics
• Weight: Males = 500lbs
Females = 300lbs
• Height: Males = 9.5 ft
• Females = 8 ft
• Dark orange color with wide
black stripes
• White spots on the back of
Wang
ears
• Unique grouping
of stripes on
their forehead
More Physical Characteristics
Muscular build
Physical Characteristics
Longer
back
legs
Large Paws
Retractable Claws
Distribution
The Bengal tiger is
found mostly in
the country of
India but can be
found in Iran,
Pakistan, Nepal,
Bhutan,
Bangladesh, and
Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Needs
water to
cool off
Needs
large
prey in
order to
survive
Needs
dense
vegetation
• IUCN Red List:
Endangered
• Only about
2,000 Bengal
tigers in all of
India
• The population
trend is
decreasing
Reproduction
• Bengal tigers usually
breed in the spring
• Female attracts her
mate by marking her
territory with urine and
making distinct noises
• At 3-4 years, the Bengal
is able to reproduce
• They typically conceive
2 to 4 cubs
Parental Care
• Cubs hunt on their
own at 10 months
but stay with their
mom until 2 years
• The mother cares for
the cubs
• She gives them milk
and cleans them
Longevity and Mortality
• Live 15 years in
the wild
• 20 years in
captivity - they
are fed better
and taken
better care of
Seasonal patterns
• The only
seasonal
pattern is
mating
during the
spring
Their Diet…Yum
• Hyper-carnivores: diet
consists almost solely
of the flesh of other
vertebrates
• Consume 35 to 40
pounds of meat in a
single meal
• Only interested in
large prey
• Man-eating in
Sundarbans region of
India
Predators
• Primary Predator:
Humans
• Due to logging,
hunting, and
poaching
• In early 1900’s,
40,000 Bengal
tigers lived in India
• Currently, only
about 2,000
Humans
Humans
Humans
Humans
Humans
Humans
Human Relationships
Interactions:
• Only in the following: Zoos, Sundarbans, poachers, farmers
• Human interactions: Limited since they sleep most of the day
• Usually non-threatening because humans are not on their menu except in
the Sundarbans
What they are used for:
• Bengal tigers are used in circuses and zoos
How Interactions can affect Conservation:
• Farmers decrease the Bengal tiger’s territory to increase their farmland
• Poachers
Fun Facts!!!
Cubs
are
boss!
Use their tails to help than
swim – Are very good
swimmers
Have crazy hops!
Can leap 10 ½ yards
Most have
more than
100 stripes
THANKS FOR
WATCHING!!!
Works Cited
Bioexpedition.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://bioexpedition.com/bengaltiger/>>.
Bortolotti, Dan. Tiger Rescue: Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife. Buffalo:
Firefly, 2003. Print.
Cougar Mountain Zoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.
<<http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/The%20Animals/tigerfact.aspx>>.
Jenkins, Martin, and Vicky White. Can We Save the Tigers? Somerville: Candlewick,
2011. Print.
Montgomery, Sy. Spell of the Tiger. White River Junction: Chelsea Green, 2008. Print.
SeaWorld. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <<http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/infobooks/tiger/behavior.htm>>.