Photos

Sumatran tiger in Zoo “Diergaarde Blijdorp” Rotterdam

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is only found in Sumatra, an island in Indonesia. It lives anywhere from lowland forests to mountain forest and inhabit many unprotected areas. Only about 400 live in game reserves and national parks and the rest are spread out in areas that are quickly being lost to agriculture. The reserves are not safe because despite conservation efforts, many tigers are killed by poachers each year.

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of all still existing tiger subspecies. Male Sumatran tigers average 234 cm (92 inches) in length from head to tail and weigh about 136 kg (300 pounds). Females average 198 cm (78 inches) in length and weigh about 91 kg (200 pounds). Its stripes are narrower than other subspecies of tigers' stripes, and it has a more bearded and maned appearance, especially the males. Its small size makes it easier to move through the jungle. It has webbing between its toes that, when spread, makes sumatran tigers very fast swimmers. It has been known to drive hoofed prey into the water, especially if the prey animal is a slow swimmer.

What a tiger eats depends on where it lives and how plentiful the prey is. They have very acute senses of hearing and sight so the tigers are very efficient hunters. They are solitary animals and they hunt at night, stalking the prey slowly and patiently before attacking at the rear or sides. They eat whatever they can catch, commonly wild boar and deer, and sometimes fowl, and fish. Orangutans could be prey, but since they spend a minimal amount of time on the ground, tigers rarely catch one.

They can live for about 15 years in the wild, and 20 in captivity.

Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_tiger