Powerful,
fierce and great hunters, Indian tiger is one of the largest and savagely
strongest predator on earth. They are specially known for their strength,
power and aggressiveness that keep their rivals away from them. Indian tiger
also known as Bengal tiger are common tiger and about 50 percent of tiger
population. Over the century tigers are an integral part of Indian culture,
lore and tradition. Tiger is a solitary animal and hunt all way through
rather than running it down. Tiger usually rest during day time and hunt in
the night. If they are hungry they can consume almost 27 kilos of meat a day
but that rare. Tiger and tigress kill once in eight days and when tigress
with cubs they would kill almost once every five days. The killing is also
very fierce and unique. The prey first attached by Indian tiger on the
throat causing suffocation, strangulation and rupture of blood vessels. For
the larger prey, Indian tiger specially attached on nose and strangulate it.
Indian tigers are strict carnivores. They are mostly preyed on chital,
sambar, gaur, hog deer, nilgai,
barasingha
and sometimes pig. Sometimes tigers has to satisfy with smaller animals like
peafowl and porcupines. Some vehement species even in their frustration
attack elephants and rhino calves. Bengal tigers in
Sunderban in West Bengal are known to feed
on fish and crab. Some tiger also become man eaters but thats a rare case.
Reproduction in tigers happens in anytime but usually they mate in the month
of November and April. The female reach maturity early at the age of 3 and
male at the age of 4. after the gestation period of 103 days, 2-5 cubs are
born. Female take care of newly born cubs. Bengal tigers usually live for
about 10 to 15 years in wild while in zoos they live little longer.
Size And Physical Characteristics
Scientific name of Bengal tiger is Panthera tigris, is the largest among
living cats. It has large elongated body of 275-290 cm, short neck and
compact head with relatively short muzzle. The legs are strong and paws are
with retractile claws. The color of the body vary from reddish brown to rust
brown with thin black stripes and white underbelly. Also in some parts of
India, white tigers are found, these are form by recessive genes.
The roar of Bengal tiger can be heard from
2 miles away. An Indian tiger is a voracious eater. It can eat 65 pounds in
one night. Bengal tigers starts to eat their flesh when it has begun to
decay.
Bengal
Tiger In India
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve - The tiger reserve is in Madhya Pradesh
covers 32 hills covered with mixed forest of sal and large stretches of
grassslands with bamboo grooves. The forest is blessed with variety of
animals like leopard, chitals, nilgais, wild dogs, black faced langurs but
the main attraction is Indian tiger. In the inner ring of the forest one can
have a glimpse of it. Although the population is sparse but still the place
is very attractive for forest lover.
Kanha National Park -
Kanha
national park is situated in Madhya Pradesh and specially popular for
its tiger population. The good part of the park is the tiger population is
not so slim like others national parks or forests in India. Kanha park is
best for wildlife lovers, apart from tigers, variety of faunas like leopard,
chital, blackbuck, wildboars and many more. The park is closed in monsoon
and open in winter and summer. Although summer is too hot but ideal time to
sneak peak in animal terrain.
Manas Tiger Reserve -
The Manas
tiger reserve located in the Bhutan hill in the Indian state of Assam.
The place is very secluded and a place of wilds. The park is cover with
deciduous forest. Manas is a very special bioshpere, for it harbours twenty
species of birds and animals that are highly endangered. The park is
specially known for rare golden langurs and Bengal tigers. The best season
to visit Manas park is between October to April.
Sundarban Tiger Reserve - The delta region is the place of two
rivers, the Brahmaputra and the Ganga. The place is adorned with mangrove
forests, swamps and interwoven with small rivers and rivulets. Sundarban
area is situated in West Bengal and covering approximately 1330 sq. km. The
place is divide into India and Bangladesh. Indian region is the habitat of
nearly 250 royal Bengal tigers. Besides the tigers other attractions like
Gangetic dolphins, jungle cat, little porpoise, Indian flying fox, and
pangolin are some of the residents of the jungle. The Sundarban area is very
humid and receive heavy rainfall. The best time to visit the place is during
the month of December to February.
Facts About Indian Tigers
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan 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)
Protection status: Endangered
Related Storie(s)
Save Tigers- India’s
greatest Wildlife Challenge- By Pramod Kumar
