River Sofia
1. Tigers are the largest amongst other wild cats
You probably knew this that Royal Bengal Tigers are the largest amongst other wild cats but did you also know that the male Tigers weigh up to 300 kilograms. That’s like weighing a group of six average human. All they have to do is sit on top of you licking their paws, you’d be dead instantly.
2. A punch from a Tiger may kill you
Leaving aside Tigers enormous body size, just look at their front-hands/legs, if you have a pet Tiger and a brutal enemy, you might as well send them for a fist fight. Kidding, you cannot have a pet tiger, it illegal! It is said that one swipe from a Tiger’s front hand is enough to kill a person or an animal, or at least break one’s bones.
3. Tigers are nocturnal animals
It is not necessarily true that all Tigers are nocturnal but yes, they do prefer engaging in most of their hunting activities at night. The reason behind this is that Tigers prefer avoiding human conflict during daylight and also patrol around their territory at night.
4. Tiger cubs are born blind and only half of the cubs survive
The saddest part is that Tiger cubs are born blind and only a few survive. Literally, the newborn cubs can’t see anything, they only follow the scent of their mother. Since they are born blind and can’t keep up, most of them die of hunger or cold. Some even get eaten by male Tigers to make the Tigress available for mating. That’s just insane!
5. Tigers love to swim and play in the water
Unlike the domestic cats, its larger version enjoy spending time in the water and they love to swim for hours. Since cubs, female Tigers encourage or help learn the art of hunting, they even have the ability to kill in the water. And as adults, it is said that they can swim for several kilometres and even have reported one to swim for 30 km in just a day.
6. Tigers live for about 25 years
The life expectancy of Tigers is between 20-25 years whether they are kept in captivity or in the wild. However, most die before the age of 20, like for instance, the death of a nineteen-year-old Machli in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India. The oldest living Tiger so far was 25-year-old Flavel, a circus-rescued, sheltered in a zoo in Tampa, Florida.
7. A group of Tigers are called an ambush or streak
The Tigers are forced into unnatural situations where they are to share or stay-put under certain areas in a man-made environment, that’s when they are called as ambush or streak, even a Tigress with their cubs is called an ambush.
8. Tigers can mate with other big cats
Tigers can also mates with other big cats, for example, if a male Tiger mates with female Lion, the hybrid born animal is known as Tigon. They are the largest cat species and can grow bigger than Liger which is a mix breed of male Lion and female Tiger. The height of a Liger is about 4.5 feet while on all four legs and about 6 feet tall when standing.
Note: You can find Tigons in at least nine countries that include USA, Czech Republic, China, Iran, Russia, India, UAE and Argentina. Cross breeding of tigers are banned in Taiwan.
9. Tigers have antiseptic saliva
Perhaps, a good side of Tigers is that they have antiseptic saliva, so whenever you get a bruise and want to disinfect them, visit the doctor Tiger, just kidding! Usually what they do is, they tend to lick the area in order to prevent any infection.
10. Tigers can sprint at over 60 kilometre/hour
Not the fastest runner in the animal kingdom but the fact that Tigers have very strong legs makes them sprint more or less than 60 kilometres per hour, but it is only possible for short distances.
11. Tiger stripes are also found on their skin
Most of you may not know this but, most of the cat species have stripes on their fur as well as on their skin. It is actually true that similar to human fingerprints, the unique pattern of stripes on Tigers acts like their identity. Even if you shave off the fur of Tigers or house cats, you would still see the stripes.
Note: Do not try this at home with domestic pets.
12. Tigers rarely roar and are humble towards their group
I know, by generous, you must be like, what? But just so you know, Tigers are one of the most humble species unlike Lions (no offence). Often it is seen in the wildlife that the male Tigers allow the female and cubs to eat first.
13. Tigers urine smells like buttered popcorn
Here’s an interesting fact, the smell that emits from Tigers urine smells like buttered popcorn, don’t get tempted because it also signifies a warning sign to the intruders in their territory.
14. Tigers prefer to hunt by ambush
One of the most common knowledge to any wildlife lovers, wild animals enjoy a surprise kill but not as much as Tigers. Due to their stripe camouflage, they hide behind thick bushes and attack their victim from behind. It is also said that Tigers are less likely to attack when we see them, in fact, most of the villages in India wear a face mask on the back of their head just to trick the Tigers.
15. Tigers are solitary creatures
It is true, Tigers are considered as solitary animals. Unlike the sights of multiple tigers kept in one cage in the zoos, you are less likely to spot the same age group of tigers roaming together in the wild. Tigers like to stay alone, they are often observed taking a leisure walk all by themselves or perhaps building his strategies for his next meal (LOL).
16. Tigers have diverse diet
The Tigers have a varied diet and can feast on anything that comes its way, be it, a wild boar, deer/antelope, rodent, bear, bird, rhino, crocodile, buffalo and even their own group of cats like leopards. They even eat fish!
17. Tigers can imitate the call of other animals
Tigers imitate the call of other animals! I had that same expression and it aroused me to dig deeper and found a positive answer, they certainly can. Hunting by mimicry is an added advantage to animals; it has been said that Tigers make a ‘pook’ sound similar to that of sambhar that draws these innocent animals into the trap and get ambushed.
18. Tigers do not normally view humans as a prey
Tigers tend to attack humans only when they feel threatened unless you look delicious (humour). But on a serious note, we cannot deny that fact, there have been reports on Tigers killing people in rural places, so it is best to stay away from their territory. If you come across such situations, it is best to walk backwards, constantly eyeing the Tiger, as mentioned earlier, as they mostly kill in ambush.
19. Tigers cannot purr
