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Tiger subspecies
The tiger is a distinctive animal with its red/orange fur with those distinct black stripes. However the tiger species or Panthera tigris to give it its scientific name is made up of several subspecies all of which have distinguishing characteristics. Here is an introduction to each of the tigers with links to specific facts relating to each subspecies.
The largest of the tigers is the Siberian tiger whose range is confined to the Amur Ussuri region in far eastern Siberia. They are also known as the Manchurian, Korean, Amur or North China tiger with the Amur tiger being distinguished by its paler golden colour and fewer black stripes. There has been much speculation as to how big the Siberian tiger can grow with reports (albeit unreliable) suggesting the record weight is 384kg. Despite these unreliable records it is known that a six month old Siberian tiger cub can be the same size as a fully grown leopard, giving you some idea of their immense size.
From the largest to perhaps the best known and most common of the tiger subspecies. The Bengal tiger or Royal Bengal tiger is found primarily in India and Bangladesh where it inhabits everywhere from grasslands to rainforests and mangroves. Recent studies have shown that Bengal tiger numbers have fallen to critically low levels with approximately just 1,411 left in the wild. The main cause of this huge decline is poaching and this threatens to add the Bengal tiger to the list of already extinct tiger subspecies.
Next is the smallest subspecies of tiger, the Sumatran tiger which is found exclusively on the Island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Their small size is no coincidence as it makes them perfectly adapted to the dense forests they call home. It is estimated that only 400 to 500 remain with logging being the main threat. In just two years from 1998 to 2000 a staggering 20% of the population where shot and killed making this sub species critically endangered.
However the most critically endangered is the South China Tiger or the Xiamen tiger which is also one of the 10 most endangered animals in the world. Between 1983 and 2007 there wasn’t a single sighting of a South China Tiger.
The Malayan Tiger is found exclusively in the southern parts of the Malay peninsula and was only classed as a subspecies as late as 2004. In Malaysia the tiger is a national icon appearing on the countries coat of arms but with estimates suggesting there are as little as 600 left in the wild the Malayan tiger is under severe threat of extinction.
The final known subspecies of tiger still in existence inhabits the forests of hilly regions in Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma Thailand and Vietnam. The Indochinese tiger is at real risk from poaching and habitat fragmentation; Tigers are poached heavily in Vietnam to provide ingredients for pharmacies in China.
