The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species,
reaching a total body length of up to 3.38 m (11.1 ft) over curves and
weighing up to 388.7 kg (857 lb) in the wild. Its most recognisable
feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with
a lighter underside. The species is classified in the genus panthera with the lion, leopard,jaguar and snow leopard. Tigers are apex predators, primarily preying on ungulates such as deer and bovids. They are territorial and generally solitary but social
animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support
their prey requirements. This, coupled with the fact that they are
indigenous to some of the more densely populated places on Earth, has
caused significant conflicts with humans.
Tigers once ranged widely
across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of
Russia. Over the past 100 years, they have lost 93% of their
historic range, and have been extirpated from southwest and central Asia, from
the islands of Java and Bali,
and from large areas of Southeast and Eastern Asia. Today, they range from the Siberian taiga
to open grasslands and tropical mangrove swamps. The remaining six tiger subspecies have been
classified as endangered by IUCN.
The global population in the wild is estimated to number between 3,062 and
3,948 individuals, down from around 100,000 at the start of the 20th century,
with most remaining populations occurring in small pockets isolated from each
other, of which about 2,000 exist on the Indian subcontinent.[4] Major reasons for population decline include habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and poaching. The extent of area occupied by tigers is estimated
at less than 1,184,911 km2 (457,497 sq mi), a 41%
decline from the area estimated in the mid-1990s.
Tigers are among the most
recognisable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna.
They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in
modern films and literature. They appear on many flags,
coats of arms, and as mascots
for sporting teams. The tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and South Korea.
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