Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris tigris
Conservation Status
EndangeredMammalia · Carnivora · Felidae
About
The Bengal tiger is a population of the Panthera tigris tigris subspecies. It ranks among the largest of wild cats. It is distributed from India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan to Southwestern China. Its historical range extended to the Indus Basin until the early 19th century, and it is thought to have been present in the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene about 12,000 to 16,500 years ago. It is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation.
Fun Fact
Bengal tigers are powerful swimmers that regularly patrol mangrove waterways in the Sundarbans — they are the only big cat population that has adapted to a tidal swamp habitat.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical forests
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
10-15 years
Threats
- Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Deforestation
- Genetic Bottleneck
- Poaching