With great fascination and shyness we admire the steps of the world’s big cats: lions, panthers, pumas, tigers, etc. The species of wild cats are diverse and, so far, around 38 are known. However, today we have to discover much more about the Bengal tiger.
Revered and persecuted for decades, the Bengal tiger is a species that remains present in nature. Despite being in danger of extinction and having around 3,500 specimens (in the 1980s there were more than 7,000) this feline remains enigmatic.
*Credits: Steve Winter
In our quest to rescue the Bengal tiger from human predation, here is a list of some facts you may not have known about this species. As legendary on the planet as they are important in the natural chain, tigers are still mysterious felines.
6 things you didn’t know about the Bengal tiger
Unique taxonomy
Bengal tigers were once considered a subspecies. This means that its existence was not taken as primary. However, eventually scientists recognized that this feline could not be classified as a subspecies because it had a very particular taxonomy. Additionally, Bengal tigers can be both white and orange.
Diverse diet
It is generally believed that felines maintain a very specific diet. In the case of the Bengal tiger this does not apply, since these animals find the meat of some deer as well as that of monkeys or even rhinos good.
India, land of tigers
The Indian subcontinent has the largest population of Bengal tigers in the world. Around 70% of the specimens of this species are native to India, that is, about 3,000 tigers. Currently they are already in Nepal and Bangladesh.
The biggest cat of all
When it comes to naming the largest of them all, a battle ensues between the Bengal tiger and the Siberian tiger. In terms of length and weight, the Bengal cat seems to beat the Siberian. Although the Siberian tiger is said to be larger, the reality is that its size tends to vary greatly, while the Bengal tiger has a more stable range.
The largest Bengal tiger was about 258 kilograms in weight and about 3 meters long. In general, the species has similar measurements, while the Siberians continue to have smaller specimens due to hunting.
cultural symbol
There are not many felines that enter the histories of human civilizations. However, this feline is the favorite in Indian culture and neighboring countries. For thousands of years, the Bengal tiger has been seen depicted on the Pashupati seal, one of the symbols of the Chola dynasty. This placed the species as the national animal of India and Bangladesh, as well as being a favorite in the literary legacy represented in the Jungle Book and Life of Pi.
Recovering his legacy
Being a species that enjoys great recognition, Bengal tigers in Asia reached up to 100,000 specimens. Today there is a record of the existence of only about 3,500 individuals. The decline they experienced was due to loss of habitat and hunting.
Between 1875 and 1925, nearly 80,000 tigers were killed in India. In 1960 it was known that the species was on the verge of extinction and from then on various efforts were undertaken to regenerate the population.
In 1971 India banned the killing of the Bengal tiger, and in 1972 made it its national animal. Now, censuses of this population are carried out every 4 years and it seems that, little by little, India has managed to increase its presence in sanctuaries and national parks.