Hobbies And Interests
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the only tiger subspecies found in India. Its range also includes Bangladesh, China and Nepal. With a wild population of 3,000 to 5,000 tigers and many more individuals in captivity, the Bengal is the most numerous subspecies. Bengal tigers, like the others, are heavily hunted for the largely illegal trade in tiger parts.
Siberian Tiger
The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is perhaps the best known of the tiger subspecies. It is also the largest. An adult male Siberian tiger can grow to more than 10 feet long, including the tail. Because of their cold habitat in Russia, Korea and China, Siberian tigers have thick winter fur. Two unusual color variations exist -- Siberian golden tigers and Siberian white tigers.
Indochinese Tiger
The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) has a broad range covering much of southeast Asia including China, Thailand and Vietnam. It lives in remote hilly or mountainous terrain. Habitat destruction is one of the major threats, in particular logging.
Malayan Tiger
The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) is a little smaller than the Indochinese tiger. It inhabits damp forests in Thailand and Malaysia. The Malayan tiger was only recognized as a separate subspecies in 2004.
South China Tiger
The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is almost certainly functionally extinct in the wild. A few individuals may be hanging on in the forests of southeast China but not enough to form a viable breeding population. Chinese zoos hold a number of individuals. Since tigers breed readily in captivity, the subspecies may survive.
Sumatran Tiger
As the name suggests, Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are endemic to Sumatra. The Indonesian government has introduced strict laws to protect the subspecies, although poaching still occurs. This is the smallest tiger, with a maximum length of 9 feet, including tail.