The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) and weighing up to 306 kg (670 lb). It is the third largest carnivore on land. Its most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underside. And has exceptionally stout teeth, strong canine teethes. They are territorial and generally solitary but social animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey requirements. This coupled with the fact that they are indigenous to some of the more densely populated places on Earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. The global population in the wild is estimated to number between 3,062 to 3,948 individuals, down from around 100,000 at the start of the 20th century, with most remaining populations occurring in small pockets that are isolated from each other. Major reasons for population decline include habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and poaching.
Tigers are among the most recognisable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags, coats of arms, and as mascots for sporting teams. The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and India. There are nine subspecies of tiger, three of which are extinct. Their historical range in Bangladesh, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, and Southeast Asia, including three Indonesian islands is severely diminished today. The surviving subspecies, in descending order of wild population, are :
1. The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), also called the Indian tiger
2. The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), also called Corbett's tiger
3. The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)
4. The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
5. The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Amur tiger
6. The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), also known as the Amoy or Xiamen tiger
In India there are 42 tiger reserves in India (21-6-2011) which are governed by Project Tiger which is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. There were an additional six proposed and four approved in principle reserves that are not yet declared. The declared reserves are operated by state forestry departments "to ensure maintenance of viable populations of the conservation dependent Bengal tigers in India. The tigers are maintained for their scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and to preserve for all time areas of biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people".
Source: Wikipedia
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