Siberian tiger is also known as the Amur tiger and it is one of the largest species of tiger. The limited population of the Siberian tiger lives in the Russian Far East, especially in the Sikhote Alin mountain range of Russia. Siberian tiger or the Amur tiger is a mighty carnivore having an immense body structure even larger than the Bengal tiger and the African lion. An average adult male Siberian tiger weighs 176.4 kg (389 lb), the average asymptotic limit being 222.3 kg (490 lb); an adult tigress weighs 117.9 kg (260 lb).
Siberian Tiger: A furious big cat - Image: Anne Marie Kalus
According to a careful estimate, the approximate population of the wild Siberian tigers is around 330-360 individuals in the lovely planet. The illegal and brutal poaching is the biggest threat to the remaining Siberian tigers in the world so in this way the Siberian tiger is critically endangered species. The poachers kill this tremendous big cat in order to obtain its precious fur and the bones that are used in making the traditional Chinese medicines. The natural habitat of the Siberian tiger is being eliminated rapidly due to logging and thus their vast territory is suffering from the shortage of the tiger’s diet.
A Siberian tigress jumping with all her grace - Image : Tyler Westcott
This is not a good situation for Siberian tiger or the Amur tiger as they need at least 25 pounds of meat every day to survive. The deer, elk, monkeys and pigs are the primary diet of the Siberian tiger and on an average their one hunting attempt is successful out of their ten attempts. The Siberian tigers wander in their wide range, in fact hundreds of miles in search of prey; so the existence of vast forest landscapes is essential for their survival.
A Siberian tiger is busy in eating - Image: Tambako the Jaguar
Siberian tigers reach sexual maturity at four years of age. They mate at any time of the year. The female gives birth to her blind cubs in a sheltered den and are left alone when the female leaves to hunt for food.
Two cute Siberian tiger cubs are playing - Image: amcgdesigns Andrew
Cubs are divided equally between genders at birth. However, by adulthood there are usually two to four females for every male. Siberian tiger has lot of dignity in the hearts of the native people and they respect the Siberian tigers as ‘Old Man’ or ‘Grandfather’, while the Nanai people have named them as ‘Amba‘. Siberian tiger or the Amur tiger may live in the wild for as long as 15 years, but those in captivity have a smaller life span.