Bengal Tiger Reproduction

Bengal Tiger Reproduction

Bengal Tiger Reproduction

Mating can take place at any time throughout the year. Females become ready to mate when they reach the age of 3 or 4 years. Males, on the other hand, are typically ready a bit later, around 4 to 5 years of age. During estrus, which lasts several days, the female emits a strong scent that attracts males. Following conception, the gestation period lasts approximately 100 days before the young are born.

After mating for a brief period, the female will raise the young on her own, as she separates from the male. A litter can consist of up to 6 cubs, which are born in a den for protection. At birth, the cubs weigh around 2 pounds and are both blind and helpless. The mother provides them with milk, and once they leave the den, she continues to nurse them while also teaching them to hunt for food when they reach about 6 months of age.

As time passes, the young tigers grow more independent. They engage in play with their siblings, which aids in their preparation for hunting and defending their territory as adults. A hierarchy often emerges among the young from an early age. Unfortunately, there is a mortality rate of about 50%, meaning that many cubs do not survive to adulthood. When they are approximately 18 months old, the young will depart from their mother to establish their own territories. Males generally leave their mother earlier than females and tend to travel a greater distance away.

Mating can occur at any time, but happens to be usually between November and April. The Bengal tiger females can have cubs at the age of 3-4 years; Bengal tiger males reach maturity in about 4 years. After the gestation period of 103 days, 2-5 cubs are born. Newborn babies weigh about 1 kg (2.2 lb) and are blind and helpless. The mother feeds them milk for 6-8 weeks and then the cubs are introduced to meat. The cubs depend on the mother for 1.5 years and then they start hunting on their own.
Bengal Tiger
bengal-tiger-physiology

BENGAL TIGER Physiology

BENGAL TIGER Physiology

Historically, it was regarded as the second largest subspecies, following the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica); however, a recent study indicates that it may actually be the largest. The total length of male Bengal tigers ranges from 270 to 310 cm, while females measure between 240 and 265 cm; the tail length is 85 to 110 cm, and the shoulder height is 90 to 110 cm. 

The average weight for males is 221.2 kg (487.7 lb), and for females, it is 139.7 kg (308 lb); however, those residing in northern India and Nepal average 235 kg (518 lb) for males and 140 kg (308.6 lb) for females.

The officially recorded heaviest Bengal tiger, with a confirmed weight, was a male weighing 258.6 kg (570 lbs), shot in Northern India in 1938; however, the heaviest male captured by a scientist to date is a male weighing 270 kg (595 lb), tagged in Nepal in 1984. 

The largest Bengal tiger, measured between pegs, was a male hunted by Archibald Dunbar Brander, which had a head and body length of 221 cm, a chest girth of 150 cm, a shoulder height of 109 cm, and a tail measuring just 81 cm, possibly severed by a rival male. This specimen could not be weighed, but it was estimated to weigh no less than 270 kg. 

Finally, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the heaviest known Bengal tiger was a massive male hunted in 1967, measuring 322 cm in total length between pegs (338 cm over curves) and weighing 388.7 kg (857 lb). This specimen was hunted in northern India by David Hasinger and is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution, in the Mammals Hall.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were reports of large male Bengal tigers measuring approximately 360 cm in total length; however, there was no scientific validation in the field, and it is likely that these measurements were taken over the curves of the body.

They possess the ability to endure cold climates, as their skin is resilient to various temperature conditions. Their fur varies in color from yellow to light orange, while their stripes can be found in shades ranging from dark brown to black; the underbelly is white, and the tail features white with black rings. A mutation of the Bengal subspecies — the white tigers — exhibit dark brown or reddish-brown stripes against a white background, with some individuals being entirely white. 

Black tigers display tawny, yellow, or white stripes on a black background. A black tiger skin, which was seized from smugglers, measured 259 cm and is currently exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History in New Delhi. Reports of black tigers lacking stripes have surfaced, but these claims remain unverified.

The roar of a Bengal tiger can be heard from a distance of up to three miles.

bengal-tiger-food-hunting

BENGAL TIGER FOOD & HUNTING

BENGAL TIGER FOOD & HUNTING

Bengal tigers are primarily nocturnal, engaging in hunting activities during the night. Despite their strength and speed over short distances, they rely on stalking their prey, as they are unable to outrun faster animals. The Bengal tiger dispatches smaller prey with a bite to the back of the neck, while larger prey is killed with a bite to the throat.

Bengal tigers predominantly hunt gaur (wild ox) and buffalo. While a tiger possesses the capability to kill a bull gaur that is more than twice its own size, it tends to target younger or older animals that offer less resistance.

In the Sundarbans region, which spans India and Bangladesh, the tiger's prey includes chital (axis deer), wild boar, and monkeys. Occasionally, Bengal tigers may also attack porcupines.

Tigers have been popularized in traditional and modern media. Think of Rajah from Aladdin or Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh. In contemporary pop culture, the most relevant reference to the popularity of tigers would have to be the Tiger King.

Tigers made that TV series popular. Seeing these exquisite, gracious creatures stirred emotion in the viewers. They were there for the tigers, just like you’re here now. You wanted to learn more about the lives of these creatures.

Bengal tigers are often larger than the other tiger species and have been endangered in India.

That is when a species of animal has had a massive disruption in its population, and they are at risk of dying out. For Bengal tigers, the cause of their endangered status is poaching, hunting, and deforestation as the human population grows.

Indeed, our growth can sometimes mean the destruction of other astonishing creatures. That’s why we must learn about these animals to better arm ourselves against our mistakes.

bengal-tiger-breeding

BENGAL TIGER BREEDING

BENGAL TIGER BREEDING 

  Bengal 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. Bengal Tiger Baby Cub

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 Bengal tiger cubs stay with their mother for 2-3 years, at which time she is ready to mate again. 

bengal-tiger-fun-facts.

BENGAL TIGER BREEDING VIDEO :

BENGAL TIGER HABITAT

BENGAL TIGER HABITAT 

 The 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 Bengal tiger usually has several dens in its home range and uses whichever one is most convenient at the time. bengal-tiger-breeding.

BENGAL TIGER HABITAT VIDEO :

What Do Bengal Tigers Eat?

What Do Bengal Tigers Eat? 

 Bengal tigers are strict carnivores, hunting a variety of animals including buffalo, deer, wild boar and other large mammals. When human settlements come too close to a tiger’s territory, tigers also may prey on goats and cattle. Occupying a niche at the top of the food chain, Bengal tigers have also been known to eat other predators such as leopards, cheetahs, wolves and bears. Cool. What Do Bengal Tigers Eat?

What Do Bengal Tigers Eat? VIDEO :

BENGAL TIGER KEY FACTS

BENGAL TIGER KEY FACTS 

 Size Length: Males, 9-10 ft., head to tip to tail. 

 Shoulder height: 36 in. Weight: Male 400-575 lb. 

 Breeding Sexual maturity: 3-4 years. 

 Mating: Usually in spring.

 Gestation : 95-112 days.

 Litter size: 2-4 cubs. 

 Lifestyle Habit: Solitary and nocturnal. 

 Diet: Chital, wild boar, monkeys, gaur, buffalo. 

 Call: Roar, growl, or purr. 

 Lifespan: 15 years under normal conditions. 

Bengal Tiger bengal-tiger-habitat.

BENGAL TIGER KEY FACTS VIDEO :

Bengal Tiger

Bengal Tiger 

Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and are renowned for their power and strength. There were eight tiger subspecies at one time, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last 100 years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced tiger populations from hundreds of thousands of animals to perhaps fewer than 2,500. Tigers are hunted as trophies, and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place. Bengal tigers live in India and are sometimes called Indian tigers. They are the most common tiger and number about half of all wild tigers. Over many centuries they have become an important part of Indian tradition and lore. Bengal Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful nocturnal hunters that travel many miles to find buffalo, deer, wild pigs, and other large mammals. Bengal Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes). They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry Bengal tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in one night, though they usually eat less. Despite their fearsome reputation, most Bengal tigers avoid humans; however, a few do become dangerous maneaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in an area where their traditional prey has vanished. Females Bengal tiger give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory. 

bengal-tiger-habitat

Bengal Tiger Video:

Only 100 Bengal Tigers Left in Famed Sundarbans

ENDANGERED SPECIES
Only 100 Bengal Tigers Left in Famed Sundarbans

Bangladesh has only about 100 tigers living in the world's largest mangrove forest, far fewer of the endangered animals than previously thought, following a recent survey, a top forestry official said Monday.

Some 440 tigers were recorded during the previous census conducted in 2004 in the World Heritage-listed Sundarbans, one of the world's last remaining habitats for the big cats.

But experts said better methodology was the reason for the huge drop in the numbers, saying hidden cameras used this time around, rather than pug marks, gave a much more accurate figure.
Tapan Kumar Dey, analysis of camera footage from the year-long survey that ended in April found numbers ranged between 83 and 130, giving an average of 106.

"So plus or minus we have around 106 tigers in our parts of the Sundarbans. It's a more accurate figure," Dey told AFP of the survey, which has not yet been publicly released.

About 74 tigers have previously been counted on the Indian side of the Sundarbans, which makes up nearly 40 percent of the forest straddling both countries over 10,000 square kilometres (3,860 square miles).

Bengal tigers live mainly in India, where nationwide there are 2,226, with smaller populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

Monirul Khan, a zoology professor at Bangladesh's Jahangirnagar University and the nation's foremost tiger expert, said the new survey confirmed his worst fears.

"It seems the population has declined (in the past) to more than what we had feared," Khan said, saying his studies showed the figure was no more than 200.

Khan said the government needed to do more to protect the animals, whose numbers were shrinking because of poaching and rapid development on the edge of the forest.

The World Wildlife Fund says tigers worldwide are in serious danger of becoming extinct in the wild. Their numbers have fallen from 100,000 in 1900 to around 3,200 now.

Officials have conceded that the pugmark tracking system used in 2004 was unreliable and cameras were installed in trees throughout the forest for the latest survey.

Y.V. Jhala, professor at the Wildlife Institute of India, told AFP the new figure was the "reality".

"The 440 figure was a myth and an imagination. Bangladesh parts of the Sundarbans with its prey size can support up to 200 tigers," he said, also urging authorities to act to better protect the cats.

THE BENGAL TIGER (2)

THE BENGAL TIGER (2)

The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger, roams a wide range of habitats including high altitudes, tropical and subtropical rainforests, mangroves, and grasslands. They are primarily found in parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

• Male Bengal tigers measure 8 to 10 ft (2 to 3m) in length, and can weigh from 440-650 lb (200-300kg).
•  Female Bengal tigers measure from around 8 to almost 9 ft (2.5 to 2.6 m) and weigh in around 220 to 400 lb (100 to 181 kg).

All white tigers are a variation in color of the Bengal tiger, some tigers have been reported that are white with or without black stripes.

Bengal tigers hunt medium and large-sized animals, such as wild boar, badgers, water buffaloes, deer goats and have been know to prey on small elephants and rhino calves. They are know for their power and in one incident a Bengal tiger was reported dragging away a dead gaur which 13 men were not able to move.

As a gaur can weigh 1 ton or more, it would mean the tiger had to be able to drag something 5 times its own weight.

Bengal tigers hunt mostly at night, killing their prey by severing the spinal cord, or by inflicting a suffocation bite (usually for larger prey).

As with other species of tigers, habitat loss and poaching are key threats to the survival of the Bengal tiger. They are not only killed for their skin and for their body parts which are used to make traditional Asian medicines.

The Bengal Tigers

Bengal Tiger

Panthera tigris tigris

Population

There were eight tiger subspecies at one time, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last 100 years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced tiger populations from hundreds of thousands of animals to perhaps fewer than 2,500. Tigers are hunted as trophies, and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place.

Bengal tigers live in India and are sometimes called Indian tigers. They are the most common tiger and number about half of all wild tigers. Over many centuries they have become an important part of Indian tradition and lore.

Behavior

Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful nocturnal hunters that travel many miles to find buffalo, deer, wild pigs, and other large mammals. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes). They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in one night, though they usually eat less.

Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans; however, a few do become dangerous maneaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in an area where their traditional prey has vanished.

Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.

Fast Facts

Status:
Endangered
Type:
Mammal
Diet:
Carnivore
Average life span in the wild:
8 to 10 years
Size:
Head and body, 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m); tail, 2 to 3 ft (0.6 to 0.9 m)
Weight:
240 to 500 lbs (109 to 227 kg)
Did you know?
A tiger's roar can be heard as far as 2 mi (3 km) away.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Current Status of Wild Tigers:

Current Status of Wild Tigers:
Bengal tigers minimum estimate is around 2,500 tigers and or 3,700 tigers maximum living in this world.

Tiger Sub-Species	Minimum Estimate	Maximum Estimate
Bengal Tiger	2500	3700
Indo-Chinese Tiger	1200	1800
Sumatran Tiger	400	500
Siberian Tiger	150	400
South Chinese Tiger	20	40
Caspian Tiger	EXTINCT
Javan Tiger	EXTINCT
Balinese Tiger	EXTINCT
Totals	4320	6640

what-are-bengal-tigers-like ?

What Are Bengal Tigers Like?

What Are Bengal Tigers Like?

The Bengal tiger, also known as the Royal Bengal tiger, is the most numerous of six tiger subspecies still living on Earth. These beautiful big cats are endangered, however, with fewer than 2,000 animals remaining in the wild. Bengal tigers grow to 13 feet (4 meters) long, and males weigh between 400 and 675 pounds (181-376 kilograms). Female tigers are generally smaller. A Bengal tiger’s coat is a yellow to light orange, with stripes that range from dark brown to black. The tiger’s belly is white, and its tail is white with black rings. A rare mutation of the Bengal subspecies, the white tiger, has dark brown or reddish brown stripes on a white background.
bengal-tiger-food-hunting

What is the difference between Bengal Tiger and Sumatran Tigers?

What is the difference between Bengal Tiger and Sumatran Tigers?

• Bengal and Sumatran tigers are two subspecies of the same species.

• They naturally range in two different regions of Asia.

• Bengali tiger has proven themselves with their abilities to survive in a range of habitats including cold mountains and hot mangroves. However, Sumatran subspecies range mostly in forested areas.

• Bengal tiger is significantly bigger in size and weight than in Sumatran tigers. Sumatran tiger is the smallest tiger in their family.

• The current population of Bengal tiger is about 2000, but Sumatran tiger are only 300 survivors presently. The IUCN has categorized Bengal and Sumatran tigers as endangered and critically endangered respectively.

• The strip of the coat of the Bengal tiger is thicker than in Sumatran tiger.

• Bengal tiger is a national animal of a country but Sumatran tiger has not gain that kind of value. However, both these are flagship species.

Read more: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-bengal-tigers-and-vs-sumatran-tigers/#ixzz1lkys8bCh

Difference between Siberian and Bengal Tigers

Difference between Siberian and Bengal Tigers

Geographically Siberian tigers and Bengal tigers are both found on opposite climates. Siberian tigers are mostly found in Russian Birch forest, some are found in China and North Korea too. Siberian tigers are adapted to extreme cold weather, to compensate for this they biologically have longer and thicker furs as compared to the Bengal tigers and they have a layer of fat in its skin and belly to help with the insulation. Since it has limited prey in his territory a Siberian tiger may travel for several days to hunt for its prey, unlike the Bengal tiger that has more prey belonging to its food chain however they also have several competitors. Bengal tigers are also known to purr, just like a domestic cat, a trait that is not particularly shared in its Siberian cousin.

In brief:

• Lately, there has been a lot of clamor for protecting and saving these wild animals. Though once fearless predators that hunted their territories, they are now in fact the ones that are being hounded.

• Siberian tigers are considered to be the largest from all the tiger species.

• Bengal tiger is the most common amongst all the tiger subspecies, they usually prefer to stay in tropical forests and tall grasses.

• Bengal tigers are also known to purr, just like a domestic cat.

• Siberians are adapted to extreme cold weather, to compensate for this they biologically have longer and thicker furs.

Read more: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-siberian-tigers-and-bengal-tigers/#ixzz1lky4HesP

Bengal Tiger Behavior

Bengal Tiger Behavior
Royal Bengal Tigers are usually solitary. Tiger couples have sometimes been seen, however a family group commonly consists of a mother and her cubs that live with her for around 2 years. Male tigers are known to fight over territory. A male tigers territory usually overlaps the territory of more than one tigress. Tigers mark their territory by urinating and spraying scent from a specialized gland. A tigress retires to a den to bear her litter, which usually consists of 2-4 cubs. In the wild, Bengal tigers live from 8- 15 years. In zoos, tigers have been recorded as living up to 26 years.
status-of-bengal-tiger

Status of the Bengal Tiger

Status of the Bengal Tiger
Royal Bengal Tiger is an endangered species. Their numbers were recorded as below 2000 in the 1970's, after which Project Tiger was initiated in India in 1973 in wildlife national parks and sanctuaries of India. There has been a steady increase in the population of tigers in India where they are protected in 27 tiger reserves, wildlife national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The threat of poaching due to the demand for tiger bones and body parts in traditional Chinese medicine remains a pressing issue. The loss of habitat as well as human population pressure on wildlife reserves in India is another concern for the Bengal Tiger.
bengal-tiger-scientific-classification.

BENGAL TIGER SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

BENGAL TIGER SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

COMMON NAME: Bengal tiger
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Carnivora
FAMILY: Felidae
GENUS SPECIES: Panthera (panther, leopard) tigris (tiger)

About-bengal-tiger: difference-between-siberian-and-bengal tiger

Habitat of the Bengal Tiger

Habitat of the Bengal Tiger

The Bengal Tiger can be found in India as well as, Bengladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. The map below shows the areas of the Indian subcontinent where Bengal Tigers can be found currntly as well as the maximum area inhabited by Bengal Tigers.

Bengal tigers are often found in Mangrove forests as well as dense forest and swamplands through out the Indian subcontinent. Bengal Tigers are solitary animals, except for females with cubs. Bengal Tigers spend most of their time alone hunting in their territory. Male Bengal Tigers will occupy territories upto 20 square miles in size and the females will occupy an area upto 17 square miles.

Bengal Tigers spend most of their days sleeping, hunting at night. the Bengal Tiger is a Carnivore. The Bengal Tigers prey include dear, water buffalo, wild pigs and small birds. The Tigers catch their prey by sneaking up on them and catching them in their powerful jaw. Bengal Tigers like many other predators usually look for weak or young animals that are easier to catch than larger, older and faster animals.


The habitat of the Bengal Tiger has decreased greatly. Some reports claim that the Bengal Tiger population is around 4,000 Tigers compared to the 50,000 around 1900. This decreases is contributed to human expansion into the Tiger's habitat. Many farmers land was once the habitat of Bengal Tigers. This has caused many Bengal Tigers to hunt on the farm land, this hunting often ends up with the death of the tiger.

Some conservationist have suggested that tiger reserves be created to help save the Bengal Tiger from extinction and give them a place to roam that will not endanger human or tiger lives.

BENGAL TIGER FAST FACTS

BENGAL TIGER FAST FACTS

DESCRIPTION: Reddish orange with narrow black, gray or brown stripes, generally in a vertical direction. The underside is creamy or white; a rare variant has a chalky white coat with darker stripes and icy blue eyes.
SIZE:
MALE To 3 m (10 ft.)
FEMALE To 2.7 m (9 ft.)
WEIGHT: Largest existing member of the cat family
MALE To 225 kg (500 lb.)
FEMALE To 135 kg (300 lb.)
DIET: Medium to large prey such as pigs, deer, antelopes, and buffalo
GESTATION: 98-110 days; 2-4 cubs born
SEXUAL MATURITY:
MALE 4-5 years
FEMALE 3-4 years
LIFE SPAN: Average probably not more than 15 years in the wild; 16-18 years in controlled environments
RANGE: Fragmented areas of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Bhuton, and Burma
HABITAT: Tropical jungle, brush, marsh lands, and tall grasslands
POPULATION: GLOBAL Less than 3,000 within natural range
STATUS: IUCN No data
CITES No data
USFWS Endangered

Bengal Tiger