Sumatran Tiger - Life & Behaviors
Sumatran Tiger - Life & Behaviors
Hunting Areas:
The tigers hunt through forests, grass levels, wetlands and at higher elevations of 8,000 feet above sea level. Plus, they prefer being closer to the center of the forest and areas closest to water.
Sometimes they force their prey into the water in order to trap them. This causes the tiger to have an advantage and the ability to have a successful kill.
Hunting Skills:
- These tigers stalk their prey until they have an advantage, ultimately leading to a surprise attack.
- This tiger hunts at nightfall due to the fact they can hide in the tall grass unnoticed.
- They stalk the intended target for 20 to 30 minutes until the time is right to attack.
- This big cat is fast with a top speed of 40 to 60 mph.
- The Sumatran tiger leaps 30 to 33 feet making their leap size in comparison to a mountain lion!
Did You Know?
The population of antelope, wild boar, deer, guar (hoofed animals) would rise drastically if the tiger weren't here to control their population.
The Sumatran Tigers Diet
Eating Habits
The Sumatran tiger is a solitary animal that cohabitates only during mating season or when raising their cubs other than that, they live alone. This large predator is important to the ecosystem, without them, the system would go haywire.
Sumatran's Preferred Prey:
- Deer
- Wild boar
- Cattle
- Monkeys
- Fowl
- Fish
Did You Know?
After the gestation of 103 days, mama gives birth to around 3 to 5 cubs and in some cases, 6 cubs may be born.
Sumatran Tigers Male & Female
The Average Weight and Length of the Sumatran tiger:
Males -
- 220-310 pounds (120 kilos)
- 8 feet long (2.4 meters)
Females -
- 170 to 240 pounds (90 kilos)
- 7 feet long (2.2 meters)
Male and female tigers breed in the cooler months of the year any other time is too hot and humid for mating, because summer temperatures reach over 100 degrees-F resulting in the mating season coming in between November and April (which are the cooler months of the year).
Sumatran Tiger - Cubs
Gestation Period
After the gestation of 103 days, mom gives birth to 3 to 5 cubs with the average born are usually 3 cubs.
Growing Cubs:
- They are born blind and weigh around 2 pounds (1 kilo)
- The first 8 weeks mom feeds them her milk and then she gradually weans the cubs off the teat.
- Mom slowly introduces the cubs to meat when they reach 2 months old.
- At 6 months old she starts to teach them how to hunt and kill prey
- The cubs are ready to hunt by the time they reach 18 months old.
- When the cubs reach their teens (2 years old) they are ready to hunt alone and are fully independent!
Video courtesy of Animal Facts channel.
Tigers Feared Close to Extinction
Poachers and shops that sell tiger merchandise are in it for commercial gain in which they ignore the laws and regulations that are set in place to protect the tiger.
It's a constant battle and people need to realize that all wildlife is precious and needs to be saved. God made them for a reason and it's up to the human race to help and protect these beautiful creatures.
But, what is anyone doing about this problem?
Tigers keep the ecosystem in check and they have a purpose to fulfill and we can help them do that, it's definitely worth it!
But What Can You Do?
Animals keep the ecosystem in check and have a purpose to fulfill for everything in the wild to run smoothly and in order!
Read more about this tiger: Are Sumatran Tigers Endangered?
Adopt a Sumatran Tiger
Contact your local conservation or animal sanctuary and adopt a wild animal, there are programs out there from sponsoring to adopting.
If you want to help these endangered wild tigers and other animals in general, then this is the way to do it!
Wildlife Sanctuary Adoption Programs:
Humans need to do all they can to help these beautiful creatures, contact your local legislature, rescue sanctuaries and perhaps get involved with wildlife adoption programs.
Sumatran Tigers Rely On You!
Hopefully, the laws and regulations that are set in place to keep the Sumatran Tiger from becoming extinct will be enforced and reinforced by forest rangers and local authorities in charge.
Humans need to do all they can to help these beautiful creatures, contact your local legislature, rescue sanctuaries and perhaps get involved with wildlife adoption programs.
Sumatran tigers will thank you as well as all creatures in the wild!
Resources
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2019 Donna Rayne
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