Sumatran Tiger🐅
By: Kaitlyn M
Scientific Name?
The scientific name for the Sumatran Tiger is Panthera tigris sumatrae.
Current Population?
The current population of the Sumatran Tiger is fewer than 400.
Where Are They Found?
The Sumatran Tigers are only found living in the remaining patches of forests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Endangerment Status?
The Sumatran Tiger are critically endangered. There are less than 400 Sumatran Tigers that exist today.
Why Are They Endangered?
The biggest threat to the Sumatran Tigers is considered to be deforestation. Illegal squatters have already converted nearly 20% of the 900,000-acre park to farmland. The farmland is being used for coffee, pepper and other crops. Also, despite government efforts to evict as many as 15,600 families who build their homes within the tiger's park, it continues. This endangers not only the Sumatran tiger, but the Sumatran Rhino and the Sumatran Elephant. These are three of the world's most endangered mammals.
Deforestation is closely followed by poaching. The tigers are also slowly losing their prey as well.
What Is Being Done To Help?
They are strengthening law enforcement and anti-poaching capacity. Even though there is a big law on poaching these tigers, a substantial market remains in Sumatra and the rest of Asia for the tigers parts and products.
What Do They Eat?
Sumatran Tigers are carnivores so their diets consist of medium-sized deer, wild boar, birds, fish and monkeys. All of these are found on the island of Sumatra.
Fun Facts About The Sumatran Tiger
- These tigers confuse their prey wither their white spots on the backs of their ears called "eye spots". Many animals mistake the eye spots are eyes. This is believed to help them stay safe from predators and keep their cubs safe.
- Sumatran Tigers are much smaller than other tigers; a full grown male tiger is only about 300 pounds, but they are about 8 feet in length, so that makes them look slender.
- One of the best tactics that these tigers have is to chase their prey into the water. They are extremely fast swimmer so they can easily over take larger prey there that they may not be able to on land. These tigers have webbing between their toes which is why they are naturals in the water.
- The stripes of the Sumatran Tiger are much closer together than in other tiger species which helps them with camouflage.
- The lifespan of these tigers is about 15-20 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity.
Eye Spots
This is what the Sumatran Tigers eye spots look like. They are used to confuse their prey and to help them stay safe from predators and keeps their cubs safe.
Swimming
One of the Sumatran Tigers best tactics is swimming. They are excellent swimmers and they can easily overtake prey that they probably couldn't on land. The have webbing in between their toes which is why they are naturally good swimmers.
Camouflage
The Sumatran Tigers stripes are much closer together than other species of the tiger and that helps with camouflage.
Citations
- http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-tiger
- http://www.tiger.org.au/sumatran-tiger-facts
- http://www.tigers.org.za/sumatran-tiger.html
- http://www.bioexpedition.com/sumatran-tiger/
- http://www.tigers-world.com/sumatran-tiger/
- http://theanimalfacts.com/mammals/sumatran-tiger/
- http://thefrogblog.org/2010/11/17/saving-sumatran-tigers/
- http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-do-tigers-eat.html?_sm_au_=iVVF3B2W5SP57ZL5
- http://www.whatdotigerseat.net/tigers-facts-do-tigers-eat-fish/
- http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2013/03/07/the-tiger-the-pig-and-the-cage/