The Ussuri tiger (also known as the Amur tiger) is recognized as one of the largest predators in the world. At the same time, it is considered the least aggressive towards humans, in comparison with other subspecies of such cats. This animal is depicted on the coat of arms of the Primorsky Territory. In ancient times, the peoples of the Far East even worshiped him.
Ussurian tiger. A photo
Appearance and habitat
The Ussuri tiger differs from other subspecies in a paler color. The tone of its color is ocher or reddish red. The tiger's body is decorated with brown or black transverse stripes. In the summer, its color is brighter. But in the winter, the fur becomes longer and thicker. The weight of a male Ussuri tiger can exceed 300 kg. Females are a little smaller. As a rule, they weigh about 130 kg. At the same time, the body length of the Ussuri tiger varies between 1.6 m and 2.9 m, and the size of the tail is 1.1 m.
The Ussuri tiger is the northernmost subspecies among large cats. The main range of its habitat is the south of the
Russian Far East. At the moment, Amur tigers can be found in the forest part of the Primorsky Territory and the southern part of Khabarovsk. The main
population of these animals lives on the territory of the Sikhote-Alin mountain system.
general information
The Ussuri tiger is known for tremendous physical strength. In particular, he is able to drag an adult horse's carcass over 500 m. In addition, the Amur tiger can reach speeds of up to 80 km / h, moving in the snow. In fact, in speed it is second only to the cheetah. It should be noted that low temperatures almost do not affect the vital activity of this species. In this he stands out among his other brothers.
The shelters of the Ussuri tiger include niches under fallen trees and rocky ledges. His favorite habitats are forests with high and steep cliffs and caves. Here the predator will always find food for itself, and from high points it can survey its possessions. By the way, each tiger has its own separate habitat, which is regularly bypassed. In most cases, predators follow the chosen route once.
Ussuri tigers are single animals and do not recognize life in a pack. The time of their activity falls on the evening, the first half of the night and early morning. In the afternoon, they usually lie on the crest of a ridge or on a rock for a better view of their territory. Cats are not known to like water. Tigers, on the contrary, can be in it for hours and swim beautifully. Under natural conditions, these animals live 10-15 years. The Ussuri tiger has almost no enemies, because only a very large bear can defeat such a strong man.
Already in the 30s of the last century, the Amur tiger was found only in the most inaccessible places of the Ussuri taiga. He was on the verge of extinction due to the mass killing of adult individuals, the capture of cubs and a decrease in the number of wild artiodactyl animals. Its winters also negatively affected its population. Thus, the Ussuri tiger is among the animals protected by the state. The Red Book assigns it to those rare animals that, with adverse factors, can quickly go into the category of endangered species.