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Introduction
Tigers consist of eight sub-species and are distinguished by their color. Royal Bengal Tiger is sub-species of tigers found in parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar.
Zoological Name Panthera tigris tigris
Population and Current Status
The estimated population of Royal Bengal tigers in India is between 3250 and 4700 free tigers and about 330 captive tigers in zoos and animal parks.
Before the initiation of the Project Tiger in 1973, the total estimated population of Royal Bengal Tigers was less than 2000. After the establishment of 27 tiger reserves in India there has been a steady growth in the population of the Royal Bengal Tigers in India. In 2004 census, the Sunderbans were found with 280 Bengal tigers.
Physical Characteristics
Male Bengal tigers measure between 9 to 10.5 feet and weigh approximately 200 to 300 kilograms. Female Bengal tigers on the other hand measure about 9 feet and weigh approximately 220 kilograms. Tigers are known to have the longest canine teeth and the canine tooth of an adult tiger is believed to be longer than a similar sized lion.
Tigers are known
to live between 8 to 15 years in the open and in captivity like zoos and animal parks they live up to almost 26 years.
Habitat
The tigers live in varied habitats like grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangroves.
However, with the threat of being extinct, the Royal Bengal Tiger is strictly protected and after the establishment of Project Tiger is found mostly in wildlife reserves, sanctuaries and animal parks.
Diet
Bengal tigers are purely carnivorous and prey on medium and large sized animal like rabbits, water buffaloes, deer, goat, wild boar, gaur. They are known to climb trees and prey primates as well. The tigers usually do no prey on adult elephants and rhinoceros. However they prey on other predators like leopards, crocodiles, wolves and dholes.
It is believed that Bengal tigers usually prey during night by severing the spinal cord of the victim.
Behavior
Royal Bengal Tigers prefer to remain in solitude. A tiger couple is a rare sight whereas a mother with her cubs is commonly seen. Male tigers are believed to guard and fight over territory. Tigers mark their territory by urinating and ejecting a special scent from a gland.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Tourist can experience the regality of the Royal Bengal Tigers in the following wildlife sanctuaries
| Bandipur-Nagarhole (Karnataka) |
Kanha (Madhya Pradesh) |
Melghat(Maharashtra) |
| Namdapha (Arunachal Pradesh) |
Manas (Assam) |
Palamau (Jharkhand) |
| Ranthambhore (Rajasthan) |
Similipal (Orissa) |
Periyar (Kerala) |
| Sunderbans (West Bengal) |
Sariska (Rajasthan) |
Buxa (West Bengal) |
| Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) |
Dampha (Mizoram) |
Bhadra (Karnataka) |
| Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh) |
Indravati (Chattisgarh) |
Valmiki (Bihar) |
| Nagarjunsagar (Andhra Pradesh) |
Pench (Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra) |
Kalakad-Mundanthurai (Tamil Nadu) |
| Dudhwa-Katerniaghat (Uttar Pradesh) |
Bori, Satpura, Pachmari (Madhya Pradesh) |
Pakhui-Nameri (Arunachal Pradesh-Assam) |
| Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal) |
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