Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tigers that lives on the island of Sumatra. In this article, we will consider this predator in detail, find out how it looks, where it lives, how it breeds, etc.
Description
He is not very similar to his relatives from the Amur region, India, etc. Such tigers are not as large as the Bengal (Indian) and Amur species. He is quite aggressive, because he had a negative experience with a person.
The Sumatran tiger (cat family) is the smallest of all its relatives. He differs from his brothers in behavior and habits, as well as in appearance (different color, in addition, the location of dark stripes, especially in its structure).
Has strong limbs. The hind legs are long enough that the animals help to make very large jumps. Five fingers on the front paws, and on the hind legs - only 4. There are membranes between them.
Males have very long whiskers on their cheeks, throat and neck, protecting the muzzle from twigs and branches when moving through the jungle. The long tail, which is used by predators to balance when running (with a rapid change of direction), as well as to communicate with other individuals.
The eyes are large, eyesight is colored, the pupil is round. The tongue is covered with tubercles, helping predators to strip the skin and meat from their prey.
Life span
The Sumatran tiger lives in nature up to 15 years, and in captivity its life span reaches 20 years.
Habitat
Animals live in the tropical jungle, as well as mountain, lowland and lowland forests.
Color
The main body background is reddish-brown or orange, black stripes. Paws are striped. Wide stripes located very close, due to which often the two nearest stripes merge. Yellow iris , blue has a white Sumatran tiger. These large cats have white spots behind the ears, which serve as false eyes for predators sneaking up behind.
Hunting
An animal from an ambush rarely attacks: it mainly tries to sniff prey, then sneaks to it, jumps out of the bushes and rushes in pursuit. Therefore, the Sumatran tiger is small in size with very powerful paws - for a long chase it is very convenient. Periodically, animals run after their goal almost across the island. There was a known case when one tiger ran after a buffalo for several days! The Sumatran tiger is very aggressive.
It is active in the summer at twilight and at night, in the afternoon - in the winter. Another method of hunting is an ambush attack. In this case, the tiger attacks the victim from behind (biting it in the neck, thereby breaking the spine), as well as from the side (strangling it). If possible, he drives ungulate game into the water, here he has the advantage - the animal is an excellent swimmer.
He pulls the prey to a safe place, and eats it there. A tiger can eat about 18 kg of meat in one sitting. After such a meal, the beast may not eat for several days. He really loves water - often bathes in ponds. Communicating with each other, tigers rub their faces.
Breeding
Some individuals do not remain after giving birth to tigresses. But the Sumatran tigers behave differently. Basically, future fathers with “wives” remain during pregnancy, as well as until the moment when the cubs grow up. Only after that the caring father leaves the family and this tigress no longer shows up until she is again capable of mating.
Progeny
Female pregnancy lasts an average of 110 days. She usually gives birth to 2-3 kittens. The Sumatran tiger opens its eyes on the tenth day. Up to eight weeks, kittens drink only their mother’s milk, after which she begins to feed them with various solid foods. The cubs at 2 months begin to leave their den. At the same time, lactation lasts about six months. In the same period, they begin to hunt with their mother. The mother does not leave the little cubs until they learn to hunt on their own (about 18 months).
Young cubs leave their father’s territory (a tiger takes females only when they settle near it). They begin an adult independent life, while young tigers are much easier than males. The latter go to unoccupied, inconspicuous lands or they are conquered from other tigers. From time to time, they live unnoticed for a long time in someone else's territory, and after they mature, they conquer it.
There are times when males take away territory even from their own fathers. When, finally, a place is found, tigers mark it with urine. After a year, they are ready for mating, therefore, they begin to actively attract young females. They invoke them with the aroma of booty, evening games and the call sign of roar. Thus, a new generation begins its life. Six months later, cubs appear, after which everything starts all over again.
Periodically, males are forced to fight for females. Such fights are impressive: animals roar loudly, their hair rises, their eyes sparkle, the males beat each other with their front paws and make jumps. Thus, the season of battles ends, ending with a mating period.
Population status
This subspecies is on the verge of extinction. Inhabited only on about. Sumatra, animals do not have the ability to breed in other regions. To date, there are about 600 individuals left, several animals use the circus. Sumatran tigers are threatened by poaching, loss of habitat (increased oil palm plantations , logging for the woodworking and pulp and paper industries, human conflicts and fragmentation of the range).