Photo Courtesy: Charles J Sharp
Logha Nandhini Murugeas
One of the most powerful, largest, and fiercest of all big cat species is the Royal Bengal Tiger. Also known as the Indian Tiger, it is the second-largest tiger in the world. It differs from other tigers by its thick orange fur with black or brown stripes. Some white-furred variants also exist. This royal animal belongs to the Felidae family, Mammalia class with the scientific name Panthera tigris. It is adaptable to different climates and can be spotted in forests, wetlands, and mangroves in India, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. With a unique number and thickness in stripes, this national animal of India can be easily counted during census surveys. They have orange-furred tails with black rings, and the white fur behind their ears guides their cubs to follow them in low light. Interestingly, Bengal tigers have striped skin and fur, making them the only animal with a fully striped body.
With an average life span of 10-15 years, male tigers typically weigh about 225 kgs and reach up to 9 feet, whereas females weigh around 135 kgs and reach up to 8 feet in length. Their mighty teeth range between 7.5 to 10 cm while their tails are 33 to 43 inches long. Most of them are yellow-eyed except the white variants, which are blue-eyed.
Bengal tigers are skilled nocturnal hunters, as they have better vision than humans. These ambush hunters make sharp turns with the help of their tails to track their prey silently from behind and seize them without the need for a chase. Not every chase ends in a kill, but having the strongest canine teeth of all big cat species, measuring around 4 inches, they can grab up to 40 kgs of meat in one go. This carnivorous animal hunts primarily on deer, gaur, antelope, and other similar species. Their strategic catching and killing of their prey showcase their hunting expertise. Though not a skilled climber, Bengal tigers climb trees to hunt their prey.
While this majestic tiger is a solitary animal, they can be seen in groups during winter, which is also their mating season. With a gestation period of three months, a female tiger usually gives birth to four to five cubs. These newborn cubs take 10 to 12 days to open their eyes completely and rely entirely on their mother till their vision is fully developed. Unfortunately, only 50% of cubs survive to adulthood. Bengal tigers don't prefer to roam in groups like lions. With their rear legs slightly longer than their front legs, they can leap up to 20 to 30 feet in a single bounce. They are skilled swimmers and can run at 60km/hr. With remarkable memory, they remember faces and hiss and fluff while fighting. When injured, they lick their wounds, and the antiseptic property of their saliva heals the wound and stops the bleeding. They secrete a mixture of musk and urine on nearby trees and rocks to mark their territory, and their roars can be heard from miles away.
Despite the conservation efforts, the royal Bengal tiger faces endless threats that endanger its survival. Major threats include poaching and illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, decline in prey species, climate change, and urbanization. The recent tiger census (2022) in India shows around 3682 tigers left in the wild. While the number has increased compared to the 2018 census, the royal Bengal tiger is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), emphasizing the importance of enhancing conservation efforts.
Logha Nandhini Murugeas is a freelance science writer with scientific knowledge and research experience. Murugeas translates complex science into well-defined, effective, and high-impact messages for the scientific world and the wider public.
