The tiger
The Tiger is the largest of the cat family. They have
powerful bodies, large paws, and very sharp claws. The head of the Tiger is
rounded and has a convex profile. The ears are black with white in the middle.
The Tiger's eyes are a yellowish-orange color, but at night they almost look
green. Coloration of the Tiger is reddish yellow or rust- brown on the upper
side, and a whitish under side. There is prominent beard like growth of hair on
the cheeks, and they may have a short neck mane. There body is covered with
heavy black stripes.
During the day a Tiger may rest in the shade, or lie in a quiet pool of
water to escape the heat. Tigers like water, and are very good swimmers.
Northern Tigers undertake long migrations. These migrations occur when epidemics
wipe out the prey populations. This type of migrations happens often.
Temperatures down to -45 degrees Celsius are not harmful and do not dampen their
activities.
Tigers usually live and hunt alone. When they hunt they can leap 5 to 6
or jump as far as 10 meters. Tigers do not usually prey on people, but some do
become man eaters. If a Tiger becomes a man eater it is because of a wound,
weakness, or just because it is to old. The young accompany their mother on the
hunt when they are 5 to 6 months of age. Tigers begin to hunt alone when they
are just eleven months old. Before the young can hunt alone, the mother will
demonstrate how it is done..
Tigers usually prey on deer wild cattle called gore, and wild pigs.
Whenever humans have domestic animals, Tigers will feed on cattle, horses, sheep,
and goats. A cattle eating Tiger will kill an ox about every 5 days, or from 60
to 70 a year. If a tiger has trouble finding food it will eat birds eggs or
berries.