The Tiger :: essays research papers

The Tiger The Tiger is often described as a particularly dangerous, sly, and invincible predator. The Tiger is the largest of the cat family. They have powerful bodies, large paws, and very sharp claws. The head of the Tiger is rounded and has a convex profile. The ears are black with white in the middle. The Tiger's eyes are a yellowish-orange color, but at night they almost look green. Coloration of the Tiger is reddish yellow or rust- brown on the upper side, and a whitish under side. There is prominent beard like growth of hair on the cheeks, and they may have a short neck mane. There body is covered with heavy black stripes ( Grzinek's Animal Life Encyclopedia 1972).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the day a Tiger may rest in the shade, or lie in a quiet pool of water to escape the heat. Tigers like water, and are very good swimmers. Northern Tigers undertake long migrations. These migrations occur when epidemics wipe out the prey populations. This type of migrations happens often. Temperatures down to -45 degrees Celsius are not harmful and do not dampen their activities ( Mammals Multimedia Encyclopedia 1990).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tigers usually live and hunt alone. When they hunt they can leap 5 to 6 or jump as far as 10 meters. Tigers do not usually prey on people, but some do become man eaters. If a Tiger becomes a man eater it is because of a wound, weakness, or just because it is to old. The young accompany their mother on the hunt when they are 5 to 6 months of age. Tigers begin to hunt alone when they are just eleven months old. Before the young can hunt alone, the mother will demonstrate how it is done(Comptons Interactive Encyclopedia 1993).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tigers usually prey on deer wild cattle called gore, and wild pigs. Whenever humans have domestic animals, Tigers will feed on cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. A cattle eating Tiger will kill an ox about every 5 days, or from 60 to 70 a year. If a tiger has trouble finding food it will eat birds eggs or berries. If a Tiger can not find any kind of food at all, it will eat any kind of flesh it can find( Grzinek's Animal Life Encyclopedia 1972). Tigers have only three major requirements:they need large prey,water,and cover.An adult tiger requires 12 pounds at a time, but it may eat as much as 60 pounds in one night.A tigress with three young require 280 kg of meat every twenty days.At times a tiger must go without food,or will have to make do with