Submitted by: Raheela Iftikhar2008ag2809Roll No 602

The Bengal tiger , or Royal Bengal tiger

(Panthera tigris tigris) is a tiger subspecies

native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal &

Bhutan, & has been classified as endangered.

Population in India 1706, 200 in Bangladesh ,155 in Nepal

& 67 81 in Bhutan

Bengal tiger is national animal of

Bangladesh & Panthera tigris is national

animal of India.

Bengal tigers belong to family Felidae.

The species name tigris is a GREEK word

arrow . It is thought name was derived

from a straight (as an arrow) & fast flowing Tigris

river that flowing between Kurdistan in east central

Turkey and the Persian Gulf. The genus

name Panthera because it is capable of

roaring along with the lion, the leopard &

the jaguar.

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Felidae Sub family Pantherinae Genus panthera Species P. tigris Sub species P .t. tigris

Panthera tigris tigris

Following are four types of Bengal tigers

Royal Standard Bengal (orange & black)

Royal white Bengal (white with black stripes)

Snow white Bengal (all white with ghost stripes)

Golden tabby Bengal (red to pale orange)

Coat is a yellow to light orange , & the

stripes range from dark brown to black , &

the belly is white , & the tail is white with

black rings.

Mutation of Bengal sub species:

WHITE TIGER

BLACK TIGER

WHITE tiger has dark brown or reddish brown

stripes on a white back ground & some are

entirely white. BLACK tigers have tawny,

yellow or white stripes on black back

ground color.

The total body length, including the tail, of

males is 270 to 310 cm (110-120 inch),

while females are 240 to 265 cm (94-104

inch). The tail measures 85 to 110 cm(33-43 inch).

Height at shoulder is 90 to 110 cm(35-43 inch).

Average wt. of male is 221.2 kg(488lb).

Average wt. of female is 139.7 kg(308lb).

Bengal tigers from northern India

subcontinent are as large as Siberian Tigers with

length of skull of 332 to 376 cm(13.1-14.8 inch)

In northern India & Nepal, males have

average wt. of 235 kg9520lb) & females

have wt. of 140 kg(310lb).

Bengal tigers roar can be heard up to 3 km

(1.9 mile) away.

The pattern of genetic variation in theBengal tigers corresponds that these arrived in India approximately 12,000 years ago. A recent study of two independent fossil finds from Sri Lanka , one dated approximately 16,500 years ago, tentatively classifies them as a tiger.

Males matures at age of 4 5 years.

Female matures at age of 3 4 years.

Mating can occur at any time but most

prevalent between November & April.

A tigress come into heat at intervals of

about 3 9 weeks , & is receptive for 3 6

days. Incubation period of 104 106 days.

1 4 cubs are born in a shelter situated in tall

grass. New born cubs weigh 780 1600 g(2lb0.

Eyes & ears are closed. Milk teeth start to

erupt at about 2 3 weeks after birth &

replaced by permanent t dentition from 8.5

9.5 weeks of age. They suckle for 3 6 months.

Eat small amount of solid food at age of 2 months.

Begin to take part in hunting at age of 5 6

month. At age of 2 3 years , they start to

separate from family group & become

transient looking for an area, where they can

establish their on territory.

Average temperature of Bengal tiger is 37.5

C or 99.5 F.

Pulse of Siberian tiger is 70 80 beats /min. or Ryal Bengal

tiger is 24 50 beats/min

Respiration rate of Royal Bengal tiger is 4 12

breath/ min

Tigers are obligate carnivores. They prefer

hunting large ungulates such as chital ,

sambar , gaur & to lesser extent water

buffalo , nilgai & takin. Among medium size prey

they frequently kill wild boar , hog deer etc.

Small prey species such as porcupines ,

hares & pea fowl form a small part in their

diet. They also take others predators

leopards , wolves , jackals , foxes & crocodiles etc.

The nature of tigers hunting method & prey

availability results in a feast or famine

feeding style. They often consume 18 40

kg 940-88 lb)

In 2010, the population of Bengal tigers in

Indian sub continent was fewer than

2500.Of these , 1165 1657 are found in

India , 200 419 in Bangladesh , 100 194 Nepal

& 67 81 in Bhutan.

The area occupied by tigers is less than

11,84,911 square km, a 41% decline

from the area estimated in mid 1990s.

The Bengal tiger has been a national symbol

of India. Indias tiger population decreased

from 3642 in 1990s to just over 1400 from

2002 2008.

In 2004, 200 tigers were estimated to live in

Bangladesh, most of them in was

SUNDARBANS & a few in the eastern hilly

part of the country.

The tiger population in Terai of Nepal is split into 4 isolated

& vulnerable sub populations:

Chitwan national park

Parsa wildlife Reserve

Bardia National park

Sukla phanta wildlife

Number of adult tigers has reached 155

after a serious decline.A survey conducted

from DEC 2009 to MAR 2010 indicates 125

adult tigers live in Chitwan National park & its

border area covering 1261 km square.

There were probably at least 100,000

Bengal tigers as recently as the late 19

century with a range that cover entire

Indian sub continent, & also in Nepal ,

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma & even eastern Pakistan.

In 20th century, population of Bengal tigers

decreased by more than 95% , dropping to

a low of perhaps 2000 in the 1970s.The

Bengal tiger is extinct in Pakistan.

Length Males 9 10 ft ,head to tip to tail.

Shoulder height 36 inch.

Weight male 400 575.

Sexual maturity 3 4 years

mating usually in spring.

Gestation period 95 112 days.

Litter size 2 4 cubs

Habit Solitary & nocturnal

diet Chital, wild boar, monkeys, gaur

& buffalo.

Call roar , growl or purr.

Life span 15 years under normal conditions.