Bengal Tiger

Behavior
Bengal Tigers do not like to share their range with other tigers. All tigers mark there territory with strong-smelling urine or shredding the bark off trees.

Bengal Tigers will drag the remains of a kill into the brush and bury it with leaves, then return and eat it later.

Bengal Tigers do not like heat. They often lie in pools of water to keep cool, and are strong swimmers.

Bengal Tiger Swimming:



Habitat
The Bengal Tiger is mostly in the mangrove forests located in eastern India. It is also found in other areas of India. Since Bengal Tigers do not like to share thier hunting grounds, they need large home ranged in which to hunt. Males occupy about 20 sqaure miles, while females typically only need 17 square miles. A tiger usally had several dens in it's home range and uses whichever one is most convenient at the time.

Bengal Tiger in Natrual Habitat:



Breeding
Bengal tigers usally breed in the spring. A neighboring male will mate with a female in her home range. Of the 20 to 80 days he remians with her, she is fertile for only 3 to 7 days. After mating, the male returns to his home range and plays no part in rearing the cubs.

After about 15 weeks, the tigeress gives birth to 2 to 4 cubs. She suckles them for eight weeks, and then she begins to bring them prey to eat. At 11 months old, the cubs can hunt on their own. They stay with their mother for 2 to 3 years.

Bengal Tiger Cubs:



Food and Hunting
Bengal tigers are nocturnal: they hunt at night. Though powerful and quick over short distances, they stalk their prey because they cannot outrun faster prey. In a tiger's natrual habitat, the markings act as comauflage and enable it to disappear from view. Tigers mainly hunt wild ox and buffallo. Although a tiger is capable of killing a wild ox more than 3 times it's size, it prefers to attack yound or old animals that put up less of a fight. They also hunt wild boar and monkey. Bengal tigers may also attack porcipines.

Fun Facts

 * The roar of a bengal tiger can be heard up to a mile away.


 * Domestic cats purr when breathing in or out, tigers purr only when breathing out.

Sizes
Length-Male, 9-10 ft. from head to tip of tail

Shoulder Height-36 in.

Weight-Males, 400-575 lb.