Tiger Facts
No two tigers look alike
Tiger stripes are as unique to them as fingerprints are to humans. Their unique patterns are formed on not just their fur, but also their skin!
You’ll never see them coming
Despite their bright orange coat, tigers actually blend in with their surroundings well. The striped coat helps them blend in well with the sunlight filtering through the treetops to the jungle floor. The dark stripes also help to break up their body shape, making them difficult to detect for unsuspecting prey.
Above all, tigers are actually ambush hunters. To deter these big cats from pouncing, hunter-gatherers in Indian villages would wear masks at the back of their heads to give the appearance of looking straight at any encroaching felines.
The face of royalty
The tiger’s forehead stripes vaguely resemble the Chinese word “王” (wang) which means “king”. This has given tigers a cultural status as regal animals.
Species of Tigers
An estimated 3,900 Tigers remain in the wild
Subspecies | Remaining | Status |
| Siberian | < 500 | Endangered |
| Bengal | < 2000 | Endangered |
| Indo-Chinese | < 350 | Critically Endangered |
| Malayan | < 200 | Critically Endangered |
| South China | < 20 | Critically Endangered |
| Sumatran | < 400 | Critically Endangered |
| Bali | 0 | Extinct |
| Javan | 0 | Extinct |
| Caspian | 0 | Extinct |
Siberian Tiger
The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies native to Russian Far East, Northeast China, and possibly North Korea. The biggest of the tigers, Siberians can grow up to 10 feet or more! Its thick coat of fur allows it to survive the harsh winters and snowy mountain passes. It also fur is also a paler orange than its more vibrant cousins.
Bengal Tiger
One of the most well-known tiger breeds, the Bengal Tiger is probably how you’d picture a typical tiger to look. Its strong jaws and powerful legs make the Bengal an apex predator in the jungles of the Indian subcontinent. A rare genetic mutation unique to Bengals can give rise to tiger cubs that have white fur and blue eyes — that’s right, White Tigers.
Indo-Chinese Tiger
Mostly found in Thailand, Burma, and Vietnam, the Indo-Chinese Tiger sports short, narrow stripes in comparison to their cousins’ thick, prominent stripes. Their scientific name is Panthera Tigris Corbetti, the word Corbetti referring to famed hunter Jim Corbett, who was often called upon to hunt the man-eaters before dedicating his life to protecting them and their habitat.
Malayan Tiger
The Malayan Tiger was originally classified as the same species as the Indo-Chinese Tiger until the early 2000s. Found in the rapidly declining rainforests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Burma, Malayan Tigers are a critically endangered species, with less than 200 mature adults capable of breeding.
South China Tiger
Functionally extinct, every living South China Tiger can only be found in zoos.
Sumatran Tiger
When a population of Tigers were left stranded on what is now the Indonesian island of Sumatra over 6,000 years ago, they had to evolve to survive in their new habitat. The Sumatran Tiger is the last of 3 subspecies found on the island, built smaller, shorter, and lighter than all other subspecies.
Dwindling numbers
Tigers are fighting a losing battle of numbers which each passing year. Rapid deforestation and urbanisation have robbed Tigers of their natural habitat and the ecosystems they depend on. Above all, Tigers are being hunted down for their unique pelt and pseudo-medicinal properties. Sexual organs are made into aphrodisiacs, fangs and claws are used to make amulets, and their blood is thought to strengthen one’s constitution.
Tigers have lost over 90% of their original population in the past century, three subspecies of Tiger have been declared extinct, and the remaining six subspecies of Tiger endangered if not critically endangered. If nothing is done, Tigers could become extinct altogether.
How you can help
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) allows everyday folks like us to contribute to conservation efforts! By becoming a Tiger Protector, you will get access to WWF’s field research, exclusive dialogues with leading conservationists, and you will be able to sponsor their equipment for future field days. Visit their website here for more information about being a Tiger Protector.