Today is International Tiger Day. Tigers are the largest cats. They live for about 25 years. They are primarily nocturnal. They love to play in the water. A group of tigers is called an ambush or streak. Although they occasionally kill humans, they do not usually view them as prey.
About 4,500 tigers live in the wild, a smaller number than the 6,000 tigers that live in zoos. it primarily preys on creatures such as deer and wild boar. The tiger is the national animal of India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and South Korea.
The tiger’s closest genetic relative is the snow leopard. Some variants of the tiger, such as the Caspian tiger, are extinct.
The tiger mates all year round, but most cubs are born in Spring, with a second peak in September. Pregnancy ranges from 93 to 114 days, with an average of 104 days. A female is only receptive for three to six days. Mating is frequent and noisy during that period. The mother typically gives birth in a sheltered location such as in tall grass, a dense thicket, a cave or rocky crevice. Litters usually consist of two or three cubs. Cubs weigh from 28 to 56 ounces at birth, and are born with their eyes closed. Cubs typically open their eyes for the first time when they are six to 14 days old.
