Tigers are considered one of the most revered animals in the culture and religion of several East Asian countries. In Vietnamese culture, the tiger is viewed as a symbol of strength, courage, and loyalty.
Tiger Species
1. Introduction to Tiger Species
The scientific name of the tiger is Panthera tigris, making it the largest member of the Felidae family. Locally, tigers are also referred to as “cọp,” “hùm,” “kễnh,” or “chúa sơn lâm.” In terms of size, tigers rank as the third largest terrestrial carnivore in the world, following the polar bear and the brown bear.
Tigers are solitary animals and only pair during mating season.
Tigers inhabit dense forests or vast grasslands, where they can easily camouflage to hunt prey or evade enemies. They are excellent climbers, second only to domestic cats, but they are also highly proficient swimmers.
In the wild, tigers lead a solitary life and only come together to mate. They are the apex predators in their ecosystems, with all animal species being potential prey, primarily medium-sized animals like deer, buffalo, and even smaller animals such as rabbits, chickens, and ducks. In rare circumstances, large animals like elephants can also fall prey to tigers.
Currently, tigers are found across various Asian countries, including Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Iran, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. In Vietnam, their population is declining, with remaining individuals primarily located in remote forest areas along the Vietnam-Laos border, Nghệ An, and Lâm Đồng.
Over the past century, the global tiger population has rapidly decreased due to illegal poaching. Tigers are hunted mainly for their skin, fur, bones, and other body parts. It is estimated that only around 200 wild tigers remain in Vietnam.
2. Biological Characteristics of Tigers
Size
There are many tiger subspecies worldwide, with varying sizes depending on geographic location and climate. On average, male tigers measure between 2.6 to 3.3 meters in length and weigh between 150 to 360 kg. Female tigers average between 2.3 to 2.75 meters in length and weigh between 100 to 160 kg.
The largest tiger species is the Siberian tiger, which can reach lengths of up to 3.5 meters and weigh around 360 kg. The smallest species is the Sumatran tiger, measuring about 2.6 meters in length and weighing between 75 to 140 kg.
Tigers generally have long, slender bodies that facilitate movement and hunting.
Color
Most tiger species have a yellow coat with black and white stripes across their chest, tail, legs, and neck. The yellow fur can vary from deep yellow to orange to reddish hues. Several color variations have been recorded, including:
- White Tiger: Features white and black stripes. These rare individuals are a result of a recessive gene rather than albinism.
- Golden Tiger: Has a lighter yellow coat compared to common tigers, with black stripes turning to brown.
- Black Tiger: Due to environmental pigmentation, their fur gradually turns black for adaptation.
Biological Behavior
Tigers are solitary creatures. Each tiger has its own territory that can extend up to 160 km. They only meet and coexist during the mating season, which occurs from February to November each year.
The mating period for male and female tigers can last from 5 to 7 days, with copulation occurring 2 to 3 times a day, lasting no more than 1 minute each time. Once a female tiger successfully mates, she will growl and chase away the male.
The average gestation period for female tigers is 105 days, typically resulting in two cubs. However, litters can range from 1 to 5 cubs. The survival rate of tiger cubs is relatively low, so the mother takes care of them until they reach maturity, usually around 3 years.
There are rare instances where a male, female, and their cubs live together in a group.
Classification of Tiger Species
Currently, there are 9 recognized tiger subspecies in the wild, of which 3 have gone extinct:
- Bali Tiger – Panthera tigris balica
- Java Tiger – Panthera tigris sondaica
- Persian Tiger – Panthera tigris virgata
The remaining subspecies, listed by their population size from least to most, are:
- South China Tiger – Panthera tigris amoyensis: Approximately 59 individuals remain in captivity.
- Sumatran Tiger – Panthera tigris sumatrae: Nearly 500 individuals remain on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
- Siberian Tiger – Panthera tigris altaica: Mainly found in Eastern Russia, with a population of about 540 individuals.
- Malayan Tiger – Panthera tigris jacksoni: Found in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, with a population ranging from 600 to 800 individuals.
- Indochinese Tiger – Panthera tigris corbetti: Found in Indochina, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and southern China, with a population of around 1,200 to 1,800.
- Bengal Tiger – Panthera tigris tigris: Found in South Asia, including India, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, with an estimated wild population of 2,000.
Did you know? The largest tiger in the world?
As noted, the largest individual tigers weigh up to 360 kg. However, with advancements in modern science, researchers have created the largest tiger species in the world: the Liger.
The Liger is a hybrid between a lion and a tiger. As a hybrid, it exhibits all the dominant traits of both species, with Ligers potentially weighing up to 400 kg.
Due to the differing habitats of its parent species, Ligers exist primarily in captivity. The record for the largest tiger in the world belongs to an 18-year-old Liger residing in the Bloemfontein Zoo, South Africa, weighing up to 798 kg.
3. Tiger Conservation
Despite being considered a fierce predator, the number of tigers is rapidly declining. Statistics show that by 2016, the wild tiger population worldwide had dwindled to approximately 3,890 individuals.
The threats to tiger populations include habitat destruction due to human activities. Additionally, the illegal wildlife trade has become increasingly sophisticated and complex. Tigers are hunted for their fur, meat, and bones for use in traditional medicine.
As a result, this species has been listed as endangered by the IUCN. Conservation measures are being implemented to help stabilize and grow the population. Notably, in India—the country with the largest tiger population—there have been strong actions taken, resulting in a 30% increase in the tiger population from 2011 to 2016.
Efforts to protect tigers and other wildlife need to be prioritized to ensure their survival and prevent extinction. According to reports, funding for wildlife conservation projects from 2010 to 2016 totaled approximately $1.3 billion.
We hope these fascinating facts about tigers have provided you with valuable knowledge. Tigers are rare animals at risk of extinction in the wild, so let’s take action to protect them.
