Image by poplinre via Flickr

This tiger is absolutely a gorgeous creature, especially from a distance, they are beautiful just as much as they are dangerous. There are about five related species left in the tiger family, there use to be eight. The biggest of all the tigers is the Siberian Tiger, with a shaggy coat, to keep them warm in the icy northeastern part o Asia.

Most Bengal tigers weight between 400 and 600 pounds, and are about 6 ½ feet long. If left alone in the wild most will live to be about 26 years of age, surviving on deer, monkeys, Water buffalo; pretty much any other animals; which makes sense since tigers are carnivorous animals. These types of tigers are somewhat loners because of the amount of territory that they must mark as their own; they may be somewhat social especially since a males territory usually will usually over lap those of several females. Territories are mark by the tiger clawing at trees and then spraying the area with their urine which. When a female marks her territory her urine lets other tiger know if she is fertile, which bring the male around looking for her companionship.

These tigers mature between 3-4 years for the female and 4-5 years for the males; at birth they are very playful and spontaneous. As they grow, their play fighting becomes more intense; which enables them to protect themselves in the wild. The cubs have a very close relationship with their mother, as they play and groom each other as their sense of trust grows. A litter will consist of 2-4 little cats, which will remain with their mother for up to 18 months. She will nurse the little cubs for up to six months, but she starts to bring them little creature at the age of 6 weeks to teach them the skills they need for their survival. The father has no interaction with his cubs at all, he usually leaves the mother after a few days, which make me wonder does he stay long enough to be sure she is ”pregnant”; especially since animals are so instinctive.

Male Bengal Tiger

Image via Wikipedia

The Bengal Tiger like all tigers have their own unique patterns on their orange coat; the black lines helping make them blend into their surrounding. No two tigers have the exact same pattern which helps them to recognized each other when they should come face to face.

With very sharp hearing and eyesight these creatures will sense his prey, sneak up behind and launch his attack; landing on the back of his prey. It does not matter the size, since the tiger uses his strength and sharp claws to dig deep into the back of his prey. Upon killing its prey, the tiger will drag the carcass off to a private area, and begin devouring it, eating up to fifty pound in one sitting. When the he is full, he will cover the kill with leaves and twigs and continue to return to it to eat, until the entire animals devoured. The tiger eats almost the entire animal, leaving behind only its bones. It eats the flesh, along with the skin and hair which is helpful in helping the tiger digest his very large meal.

Image via Wikipedia

In addition to Tigers, there are other big cats out there that are relatives of the tiger and just as feisty; such as the lion, leopard and jaguar. Even the family cat, has the instincts of the tiger and other feisty cats; she will sneak up on her prey attacking from behind. The house cat, tiger and lions will walk on there pads of the paw, but when threatened or need to climb to high altitudes the claws will come out to protect herself, to climb a tree or just get a better grip on the territory she is climbing.

Image via Wikipedia

Tigers like cats are gorgeous, by not an animal that I would like to come face-to-face, eye-to-eye with.