The Bengal tiger, also known as the Royal Bengal tiger or Indian tiger, is one of the eight subspecies of tiger primarily found in the Indian subcontinent.
Fossils older than two million years have been discovered, and it states tigers have been on earth for a long time. The Bengal tiger is considered to be the second-largest tiger in the world.
The strong physique and various sensory abilities are some interesting facts about Bengal tigers. These solitary, loving mammals are always attentive and serious about their territory.
Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris is the scientific name for the Bengal tiger. They are native to Asia and are found in dense forests in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
India has the maximum number of Bengal tigers. Bengal Tiger stripes are unique to each individual, just like human fingerprints.
Bengal tigers are renowned for their power and strength. Its roar is so loud that it can be heard up to a 3 km radius.
The Bengal tiger has a yellow or light orange coat with black or dark brown stripes, a tail with black rings, and a white belly.
Bengal tigers can ingest up to 40 kilograms of food on a single occasion. The Bengal tiger is a powerful hunter, and it preys on deer, buffalo, wild boar, wild pigs, and other mammals.
The average lifespan of the Bengal tiger is 18-25 years. Due to habitat loss and hunting, the Bengal tiger has been classified as an endangered species.
The average weight of a male is 220 kg, and the body length is 3 meters. The female weighs around 140 kg with a body length of about 2.5 meters.
Bengal tiger coat is yellow to light orange, and the stripes range from dark brown to black. The tail is white with black rings on it, and the belly is white. The striking striped appearance makes them unique among all tiger species.
Along with peacock, Bengal Tiger is also considered auspicious being the ride of Goddess Durga. The two creatures are respectively “India’s National” birds and animals.
Facts About Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is considered to be the largest species of the tiger after the Siberian tiger. They are best known for their sheer speed and incredible strength. They have strong teeth and jaws that make them a great hunter in the wild.
Here are some intriguing facts about the Bengal tiger.
1. Bengal tiger habitat
Bengal tigers live in both tropical and dry forests, mangroves, grasslands. They are the only tiger species that are known to thrive in mangrove habitats. They prefer living in areas without human populations, far away from human society.
The Bengal tiger is primarily found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh but India has the most numbers in the wild. They are also present in some areas of Burma and China.
As of now, their number is less than 3500 due to habitat loss and poaching. Most of them are protected and kept in national parks and conservation areas. Siberian tigers prefer cold climates and are found in the snowy parts of China and Russia.
2. No predators
It has no natural predators because of its size and hunting power. They stalk their prey and wait for the right opportunity to attack to catch it off guard.
Bengal tiger possesses strong teeth and jaws, which makes them great hunters. While hunting, they can reach speeds up to 65 km per hour. These facts about Bengal tiger suggest they are not unbeatable but according to circumstances they always have the upper hand in the duel.
3. Diet
The Bengal tiger is the dominant and carnivorous predator. It hunts on deer, wild boar, wild buffalo, chital, and other mammals. They can eat up to 40kg in one sitting but don’t do this very often.
4. They are night hunters
Like other tigers, Bengal tigers are also active during the night. They rest in the shade during the day, preserving energy for hunts at night.
Tiger is solidity hunter, unlike lions that hunt in packs. They quietly stalk their prey until they are close enough to pounce, then they attack their victim with a bite to the neck.
Night vision of these creatures is six times that of humans and hearing is five times more. These facts about Bengal Tiger make them more dangerous strengthening their ability to hunt.
They sleep during the daylight and patrol their area during the night. Bengal tigers are solitary hunters and hunt alone, where 80% of the attempts are unsuccessful.
Also Read Incredible Crocodile Facts!
5. Unique Stripes
Like human fingerprints, the Bengal tiger’s stripers are unique, and no two tigers have the same match. Black, grey, or brown colored stripes run vertically down all of its body and tail with black rings.
Just like humans, Bengal tigers can be differentiated with the help of unique stripes. They not only have stripe patterns on furs but are also present on the skin.
Generally, we think all the patterns are the same but here we found out, how they differ from each other. These are some of the unknown and unnoticed facts about Bengal tigers.
These stripes help the tiger hunt in the dark because they camouflage them in the trees and bushes. The physical characteristics that allow them to blend with the surrounding are one of the amazing facts about the Bengal tiger.
6. Reproduction
The female Bengal tiger is only fertile for 4 or 5 days out of an entire year, usually from December to April. Male achieves sexual maturity between the ages of 3 to 5 while females are between the ages of 3 to 4.
The female gives birth to 1 to 4 cubs at a time. Like other cats, the cubs are blind for the first week. They are dependent on the mother until they are about 18 months old and learn to hunt during that time.
After the age of 2 or 3, they begin their solitary life.
7. Behavior
The Bengal tiger is a solitary animal that rests in the shade during the day, conserving energy for its hunts at night. They regularly patrol their territory and mark the borders with urine. Their territory can expand up to 100 to 200 square kilometers.
The tigers will never roar while fighting; instead, they hiss and only roar when calling another tiger from a distance. They sometimes hunt domesticated animals and can even kill humans if they feel threatened.
8. Three species are already extinct
According to geographic distribution, there are eight species of tiger. The three species of Balinese tiger, Caspian tiger, and Javan tiger subspecies were exterminated by the 1940s, 1970s, and 1980s.
There are around 3,000-4,200 Indian or Bengal tigers in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, China, and Nepal. 400-500 Amur or Siberian Tigers are found in eastern Russia, Korea, and northeastern China.
Amoy or South China tigers exist only in captivity. Approximately 300-450 Sumatarian tigers are found in Sumatra. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar have 1,000-2,200 Indochinese tigers.
Also Read Powerful Fact About German Shepherd!
9. Strong teeth
Bengal tigers have 30 teeth, which is less than other carnivores, such as dogs with 42 teeth. It consists of 4 canines, 12-14 incisors, and other molars and premolars.
The canine length is 6.4 to 7.4 centimeters long, which assists them in breaking the vertebrae and ripping up the skin of animals.
The pressure-sensing nerves present in the canines assist them in spotting the exact location to tear off the prey’s neck.
Bengal tigers have sharp knife blade-like teeth on the rear, known as carnassials. They slice the meat with these rear teeth and swallow those large pieces of the flesh.
Bengal tigers have six sharp and small incisors in the top and the bottom of the jaw. They use them to pick off meat and scrap bones.
Also Read White Lion Facts!
10. Enormous power
Bengal tigers are considered one of the strongest mammals on the planet. The robust structure of these creatures aid them in dragging their prey for nearly a mile, no matter how big the prey is.
Considering the facts about Bengal tigers’ lengthiest canines, they have a puissant bite in the family of Big Cats.
The bite force of the Bengal tiger is approximately 1050 pounds per square inch which is stronger than grizzly bears and lions.
11. Massive Brain
Bengal tigers have a massive brain that weighs 300 grams which is comparable to Chimpanzee brains. They have a multifunctional brain that consists of various receptors for touch, smell, and taste sensors.
The memory power of the Bengal tiger is five times stronger than humans. Even short-term memory lasts about 30 times longer than humans. These facts about Bengal tiger show they are not only physically strong but mentally too.
Also Read Intelligent Ant Facts!
12. Bengal tiger facts about antiseptic saliva
Bengal tigers use their saliva to heal their wound or infected area. The saliva contains antiseptic properties and aids in some critical injuries obtained while hunting or resisting attacks.
The saliva of the Bengal tiger contains lysozyme enzymes, which defend the cell wall from being infected. This protein helps them in quick recovery and stops bleeding.
Not only the strength but also the antiseptic saliva, which helps them heal wounds quickly are surprising facts about Bengal tiger.
13. They Can Swim
Unlike most cat family members, the Bengal tiger likes water and enjoys cooling off in rivers and streams. Tigers are great swimmers.
A Bengal tiger can swim up to 4 miles at a time. Even cubs will play in the shallow water and will even bathe themselves in rivers.
14. Bengal tiger facts as the tree climbers
Bengal tigers are expert tree climbers and can chase their prey climbing the tree. They have retractable claws up to 4 inches in length, which they hide while walking and use to climb the tree or grab their prey.
Bengal tigers use their momentum or run and the strength of the limb to climb up. They rarely chase their prey up in the tree, and they do so when provoked or attacked.
The curvature shape of the claws provides abetment to grip the trunk of the trees and climb comfortably, holding the prey. These tree-climbing facts about Bengal tiger are astounding.
15. Bengal tigers are skilled hunters
Bengal tigers are not only powerful but also known as ferocious and skilled hunters. They have such a powerful strike that can break the spinal cord in one blow or snatch the life out in a single bite.
The clandestine hunting approach by Bengal tigers and the camouflage give them the upper hand to catch the prey by surprise. They hide in tall grasses or crawl silently towards their target.
Once the Bengal tiger gains control over the prey, they like to play with it and chase the wounded prey that can hardly walk. These are some frightening facts about Bengal tiger.
16. Hind legs are stronger than front legs
Compared to other tigers, the Bengal tiger’s hind legs are larger than the front legs. These features allow them to leap forward up to 10 meters.
The front legs are muscular and strong enough to take down the larger prey. The bones located at each foot of the Bengal tiger are compact, which helps them balance and jerk during landing, running, punching, and leaping.
17. White Bengal tiger
It is one of the subspecies of the Bengal tiger that is white with black stripes. The unique white color is due to a rare gene mutation.
White Bengal tigers are extinct from nature due to trophy hunting and poaching. White Bengal tigers are also known as White tigers.
18. Bengal Tigers are unsocial
Bengal tigers avoid human contact most of the time, but we live with the misconception that they hunt us. The main reason is cutting down the forest and building villages and towns.
Bengal tigers are not as social as other predators and love to live in solitary. They focus on their survival by marking territory, patroling, sleeping, and hunting.
Many attacks on humans have been reported to date. Depending on the creature’s age, agility and the starvation caused by the demolition of the prey’s habitat lead them to the village and cities.
19. Own big territory.
They are large creatures with enormous body structures. They are found sleeping and resting in their den during the day. When the dawn starts, these vicious creatures start to patrol their territory.
The territory of the male Bengal tiger is 20 square miles, and of the female Bengal tiger is 17 square miles which extends from 38 to 76 square miles.
They roam around their territory marking with urine and scratching the trees. Female Bengal tigers are more aggressive if they have a cub. They hate being disturbed and are peace-loving animals.
20. Cultural values
Tiger is the national animal of India. Bengal tigers are part of many cultures. In some parts of India, Bengal tigers have been worshipped for many years. Bangladeshi banknotes feature a Bengal tiger.
In China, tigers are considered protectors of good people. Tiger symbolizes strength and courage in Japanese culture. Many professional sports teams use the tiger as their mascot. These are some amazing Bengal tiger facts where their importance and significance are given higher considerations.
Also Read Surprising Facts About Tibetan Mastiffs!
21. An Important part of the ecosystem
The Bengal tiger plays an important role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. Tigers are a top predator at the apex of the food chain and help to balance the ecosystem by controlling the prey population.
The leftovers of its prey are food for the wild foxes, birds, reptiles, and other carnivores. It maintains a balance between the herbivores and the vegetation they consume. Hence tigers are responsible for balancing the ecosystem.
22. Danger of extinction
The Bengal tiger has been classified as endangered species by the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature). The Bengal tiger is near extinction as there is less than 2500 tiger left in the wild.
Due to habitat loss and poaching, the number has been significantly dropping in the last few years. Bengal tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used for medicinal purposes.
As of now, all the Bengal tigers are protected in national parks and reserve areas to prevent them from extinction.
All the above-mentioned facts about Bengal tigers explain their physical characteristics, behavior, anatomy, and status. The power and punch of these creatures are vigorous and harsh.
The combination of power and intellect in the Bengal tiger is appealing. The mighty species existing on earth that has no predators are “the Bengal tigers.”
The Bengal tigers are carefully watched over to reduce the possibility of extinction in various wildlife habitats worldwide.
