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.

Another big cat is under great threat. This big cat was once found in the wide range of South East Asia which is now scattered to the limited areas of China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The vigorous and majestic Corbett tiger was once the symbol of monstrosity and horror, but now is itself seeking its survival. It is feared that this big cat has become extinct in China because in 2009 the last known wild Indochinese tiger was killed and eaten by the native villagers. Corbett tiger is usually known as the Indochinese tiger which has now the estimated population of less than 1,000 individuals in the world

The Indochinese Tiger or Corbett Tiger ( Image: patmanzzz-against SOPA/PIPA )

The Indochinese tiger is biologically known as Panthera tigris corbetti and lives in secluded forests in hilly to mountainous terrain, the majority of which lies along the borders between countries. Human poaching, habitat destruction, deforestation and hunting for oriental medication have made their current status critically endangered. The locals kill the Indochinese tiger for its exotic orange colored striped fur and its bones that are used in making the traditional Chinese medicines.

The rare Indochinese tigress in the jungle. Image © Arjun Juneja

The majestic Indochinese tiger is smaller in sizes as compare to the Bengal tiger with a darker skin color. Males weigh from 150–190 kg (330–420 lb) while females are smaller at 110–140 kg (240–310 lb). The Indochinese tiger usually love to hunt larger mammals like wild boars, deer and cattle. Because of the dangerous shrinking of the forests, the scarcity of food is another alarming threat to the lives of the Indochinese tiger. The gestation period in the female Indochinese tiger is of 3 to 4 months and the female may give birth up to 4-5 cubs in the ideal circumstances. The newborn babies are fed by the mother for about two months and then they start eating meat. The cubs depend on their mother for the first 18 months and then they start hunting on their own.

An Indochinese cub in a zoo ( Image : Josh More )

The international organizations like WWF and IUCN are trying to find new areas having low human interference as the Indochinese tiger’s habitats for their protection and conservation. The survey reporting and research work about this rare big cat is a tough ask because of access to the areas where Indochinese tigers live is often restricted. According to the WWF officials, the best hope of the survival of this subspecies is in the Dawna Tennaserim landscape on the Thailand-Myanmar border where perhaps 250 tigers remain. WWF considers the forests of the Lower Mekong a restoration landscape with the possibility of reintroducing tigers as the habitat and prey base are there. Southern Laos and Central Vietnam also have potential for recovery of wild tiger populations.

The majestic Indochinese tiger is being eliminated by the poachers on the highest rate than any other tiger sub-specie of the lovely planet.  The need of the day is to stop their hunting and the illegal trade of the Indochinese tiger. All governments of their respective habitats must improve the living conditions of the Indochinese tiger and the local community should also co-operate with the authorities to safeguard this extraordinary carnivore specie.

The smallest tiger sub specie lives in the mountain forest range of Sumatra which is known as Sumatran Tiger. This is also very rare animal which is classified as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union. According to an estimate, there are only 700 Sumatran Tigers in the world which are found only in Sumatra off the Malaysian Peninsula. Before the start of the twentieth century, the rare Sumatran tiger was found almost everywhere on this island but after this the number of this magnificent specie  has reduced rapidly.

Sumatran Tiger or Panthera tigris sumatrae

There is speedy growth in the human population which has ultimately affected the natural habitat of the Sumatran tiger. Massive agricultural development in Sumatra has caused the biggest threat to their natural habitat. Similarly poaching and illegal trade of the body parts of Sumatran tiger is another big danger to the population of Sumatran tiger.

A Sumatran tiger swimming in the water

Sumatran male tigers average 8 feet (2.438m) in length from head to tail and weigh about 265 lbs. (120.2 kg). Female Sumatran tiger averages 7 feet (2.134 m) in length and weighs about 200 lbs (90.718 kg). Larger portion of the population of the Sumatran tiger are kept in the protected areas and zoos where they go through global conservation breeding schemes. Panthera tigris sumatrae or Sumatran Tiger has narrower stripes on their bodies as compare to other tiger species and the Sumatran tigers are also very fast swimmers.

Auckland Zoo Sumatran tiger cubs

The rare Sumatran Tiger is also a carnivore and their diet includes medium sized mammals like deer, badgers, and wild buffaloes. Their favorite prey comes from the deer family like Sambar , Mouse deer and rusa etc.

A very beautiful big cat lives in the deep Sunderbans regions of Indian Sub continent, which is known as Bengal Tiger. Bengal Tiger, the beautiful big cat of South Asia is scientifically known as Panthera tigris tigris and it is famous for its unique light orange coat and dark brown stripes. Although it not the biggest big cat of the world, yet it is a huge animal which might weigh up to 600 pounds. Bengal Tiger has a very elegant body structure with the legs that are slender. The surface of the fur of Bengal Tiger is very soft and fine. This is the main reason for its brutal hunting especially during the last century.

Bengal Tiger is scientifically known as Panthera tigris tigris

The estimated population of Bengal Tiger is hardly of 3000 in number at present according to the recent calculation. Out of which the majority is found in India and Bangladesh while some number of Bengal Tiger is also found in Bhutan and Nepal. Male Bengal tigers had a total length, including the tail, from 270 to 310 cm (110 to 120 in), while females range from 240 to 265 cm (94 to 104 in). Tails are 85 to 110 cm (33 to 43 in) long, and height at the shoulders is 90 to 110 cm (35 to 43 in). The Bengal tiger becomes adult at the age of five, and the average life span of the tiger is about 13 to 15 years. The couple mates with each other about any time of year. The female Bengal tiger may give birth up to four cubs. The cubs of Bengal Tiger don’t hunt for themselves until they are at least 18 months old. Then they go hunting with their mother. The gestation period is about three months and ten days.

A mother Bengal tiger and her cub ( Photograph by Michael Nichols )

Bengal Tigers have the surprising ability to swim between the islands of the mangrove and tropical habitats of Sunderbans. The diet of Bengal tiger includes wild oxen, monkeys and boars etc. Although they are able to hunt buffaloes, chital, nilgai and sambar like animals. This frightening predator normally preys at night.

A cute Bengal Tiger cub. Image by Brian Dobbins ( flickr )

Bengal Tiger, the beautiful big cat of South Asia has been classified as endangered by IUCN. The biggest threat is its massive hunting by the illegal traders in order to get its precious body parts and its poached skins. This is also generally thought that the eyes, bones, and even whiskers are very commendable to researchers who are making medicine to treat or cure human ailment, and to give people a longer life. The governments of India and Bangladesh have classified many areas which are the habitats of Bengal Tiger as the protected areas. Although this policy has produced some helpful achievements to eliminate the poaching and for restoring of their habitats, yet for the proper conservation of Bengal Tiger more practical strategies are required.

Mountain Gorilla is one of the largest mammal species on earth who are deemed as  the most endangered animals by now. The endangered Mountain Gorillas live in the dense tropical forests of Central Africa. The illegal and ruthless hunting has caused their population very limited who live within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are considered one of the rarest in the living primates and their estimated population is about 800 only.

Mountain-Gorillas

This magnificent mammal although physically very strong but they are very shy and soft in their nature. They inhabit in form of groups and their group is headed by one of the most dominant gorilla in the group. The average number of Mountain gorillas in the group may be 10 to 13. Mostly in a group there is only one adult Mountain Gorilla and rarely more than one. Mountain Gorillas can eat almost 100 different types of plants as they are naturally herbivore. The Mountain Gorillas don’t have a permanent residence as it depends upon the availability of vegetation in their zone. On an average they change their residence yearly. The Mountain Gorillas can make the vocalization of 25 various types. The typical tropical climate of their regions allows the growth of numerous succulent plants which they use as their favorite diet. The herbs consisting in their diet naturally possess salient amount of water in them so Mountain Gorillas drink water rarely. Mountain Gorilla is very intelligent and sensitive mammal which is closely related to humans. Even the scientists consider Mountain Gorilla as 98 % genetically identical with humans. The leader of the group of the Mountain Gorilla can be recognized having its silver grayish back and who is the most prominent because of its heavier physique than the other gorillas. He leads the other mountain gorillas and protects them from danger.

The female Mountain Gorilla gives birth of only 2 to 6 gorillas in her life. This way we can realize that how slow rate of reproduction exists in the Mountain Gorillas. The population of the endangered Mountain Gorillas is under great threat of extinction. Many factors have contributed in this regard like habitat loss , diseases , deforestation , environmental degradation and poaching. They are usually hunted for the illegal trade of their heads, hands and feet. For the conservation of Mountain Gorillas an organization was established known as the International Gorilla Conservation Program ( IGCP ) which is working in collaboration with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature. Furthermore many research works are initiated to create the awareness about Mountain Gorillas along with community based workshops.