Bengal Tiger

On February 14, 2010, the Chinese lunar calendar moved into The Year of the Tiger.

Tigers are the largest of all the Asian big cats, at the top of the food chain.  Tigers are one of the most culturally important and beautiful animals on the planet but they are one of the most vulnerable and threatened species on Earth.

Bengal Tigers are found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.  The tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh.   According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 2,100 royal Bengal tigers in the wild:

• 1,411 in India
• 200 in Bangladesh
• 150 in Nepal
• 100 in Bhutan

It is considered to be the second largest tiger next to the Siberian Tiger, though recent studies show that the Bengal tiger could actually be larger than the Siberian.

The total length for males from tip of nose to tip of tale is between 8′ – 10′ and the average weight is about 490 lb., females are a little smaller, they are between 7-8 feet and weigh about 300 lb.  Though in India and Nepal, Bengal tigers can grow to about 518 lb. for males. A Bengal Tiger’s coat is yellow or orange with black or brown stripes.  Their belly is white and tail is white with black rings.  There are also white Bengal Tigers which have white coat with dark brown or reddish brown stripes.  This coloration is caused by a recessive gene.

A tiger’s roar can be heard up to 2 miles away.

India has approximately 2/3 of the worlds tigers.  Tigers are found in 37 tiger preserves throughout India.  Habitat loss and poaching are serious threats to the tiger population.  Tigers are killed for sport, skins and body parts.

According to the World Wildlife Fund – If we do not respond to the plight of the wild tigers and the needs of the communities that share their homes with tigers – most of which is outside protected wildlife areas, we will witness the loss of one of the world’s most irreplaceable, natural wonders of our lifetime.   Tigers survive on 40% less area than they occupied 10 years ago.  The tiger population has fallen about 95% and its range has decreased over 93% over the past century.

Please sign the petition Protect Tigers from Illegal Trade Help WWF tighten regulations to protect captive tigers in the U.S. and prevent increased demand for tiger products that put wild populations at risk. Sign WWF’s petition to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asking them to use their authority to close existing loopholes in the permitting and monitoring of captive tigers in the U.S.

World Wildlife Fund’s Goal Tx2 is to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger.

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