• They are carnivores and they hunt and eat gaur (wild ox) and deer. (B.T. blogspot)
  

• In an area of India, they can hunt chital (axis deer), wild boar, monkeys, and occasionally porcupines. (B.T. blogspot)
  

• Live in swamps, mangrove forests, and dense forests (tdennis14)
  

• They live in the Indian subcontinent (wiki); India, Bhutan, Bengladesh, Burma, Nepal, and Myanmar. (wiki, IT/BT, tdennis14)
  

• The Bengal tiger is at the top of the food chain, therefore it has no predators except humans (IT/BT, How They Live)
• Live in territories (SeaW)
  
• Males' territories often overlap those of females (SeaW)
  

• A Bengal tiger sneaks up on his prey in the picture below
  

• In the picture below, a Bengal tiger attacks their prey
  

• Its body covering is a fur coat that is either orange with a white belly and black stripes or white with black stripes (IT/BT)
  
• Classification:(IT/BT)

1. Mammal
2. Phylum: Chordata
3. Order: Carnivora
4. Family: Felidae
5. Genus Species: Panthera Tigris
   

• Size: (IT/BT)
  

1. Average Height: Female - 80 cm.....Male - 90 cm
2. Average Length: 10 ft
3. Average Weight: Female - 200-250 kilos.....Male - 300 kilos

• Communicate via roar (a female calling to her young, mating, taking down prey, and they can be heard from distances over 3 km.), chuffing, growling, and mating call (SeaW)
  

• Life Span: (IT/BT)
  

1. Wild: at most 15 years
2. Captivity: 16-18 years
   

• Sexual Maturity: (IT/BT)
  

1. Males: 4-5 years
2. Females: 3-4 years

• Females have 2-4 cubs at one time (IT/BT)
  

• Their unusual characteristics include: (SeaW)
  

1. "False eyes" (white spots that look like eyes) on the back of their ears.
   
2. Their stripes often form the Chinese symbol for king on the forehead

• The illustration below shows the stripes on a Bengal tiger's forehead forming the Chinese symbol for king ("wang"), and their false eyes on the back of their ears
  

• This image shows a Bengal tiger cub
  

• Legs & Claws (SeaW)
  

1. Its hind legs are longer than its front legs; for leaping
2. They have large, padded feet; for stalking prey
3. Claws can grow up to be 10 cm long
4. The "dewclaw" is located farther back on the foot
5. Their curved claws allow them to hold things more efficiently
   

• Body & Jaw Structure (SeaW)
  

1. Their stout, rounded head supports their jaws
2. Though they have fewer teeth than some carnivores, they have the largest canines (6.4-7.6 cm)
3. Its tail is used for balance and possibly communication
   

• Fur (SeaW)
  

1. Their fur provides warmth, camouflage, and protection
2. Guard Hair and Under Fur:
   

• Speed (Wiki.A)
  

1. They can up to 35 mph
2. They do not migrate or hibernate
   

• Attack (SeaW)
  

1. They hunt alone
2. They stalk their prey
   

• The following picture illustrates a Bengal tiger's mighty jaws
  

• Humans did not effect tiger population until 1750 (How They Live)
  
• Before 1750: about 100,000 (How They Live)
  
• Now: about 2,000 (Wiki.A)
  
• Loss of Habitat (Crisis)
  

1. Roads
2. Timber, wood
3. Human settlements
4. Dams
5. Industrial and agricultural expansion

• Illegal hunting (bcps)
  

1. Poaching
   

• Bengal tigers are sometimes killed for their fur coats
  

• Tigers are being kept in zoos (bcps)

• Zoos are putting together breeding programs (bcps)
  

• Laws are being passed to protect the Bengal tiger from hunters, poachers, etc. (bcps)
  

• All of these result in a bigger population and more natural habitat (bcps)
  

How You can Help Out!

• Donate to:
  

1. The "Save The Tiger Fund"