Hobbies And Interests
Large Prey
The carnivorous Bengal tiger mainly hunts large-hoofed animals. Common prey includes wild ox, Indian bison, and Sambar deer. Less often they may prey on water buffalo, antelope and takin, which are goat-like mammals. The tigers cannot run very quickly, so they're considered stalkers. They approach their prey from behind and use a surprise attack. They bite their prey in the neck then drag the animal off to a shaded area to feed.
Smaller Prey
A Bengal tiger's diet also includes several small and medium-size animals. The tigers are known to eat peacocks, porcupines, hares and monkeys. Infrequently they may eat leopards, foxes, jackals and even crocodiles. The Bengal tiger is solid and strong, weighing, on average, more than 400 pounds, so killing small prey is easy for them. These tigers are unique in the cat world, because they sometimes feed on carrion -- the rotting flesh of dead animals.
Hunting Techniques
Bengal tigers are patient and fierce hunters. They're capable of dragging heavy prey more than half a mile after killing it. When hunting for small prey, the tigers bite the animal on the back of its neck, severing its spinal cord. When going after larger prey, the tigers bite the animal's throat, suffocating it. In one night, the Bengal tiger can eat more than 60 pounds of meat. They can also climb trees skillfully, which is how they hunt monkeys.
Endangerment
The Bengal tiger is an endangered species. No more than 1,500 are left living the wild, and that number continues to decrease. Habitat loss is a major factor in the tigers' endangerment, as is hunting the animals for ingredients for Asian medicine. Since Bengal tigers will hunt livestock, they sometimes are killed by farmers looking for retribution. Additionally, poachers kill Bengal tigers for their skin, bones and teeth, usually for export to China.