225 images Created 20 Apr 2017
Bengal Tigers of India
Bengal tigers are native to the India subcontinent. The largest populations are in India, but there are smaller groups in Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. They are threatened by poaching, and loss and fragmentation of habitat. It is estimated that there are fewer than between 1500 - 2500 (unconfirmed) tigers left in the wild. Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Out of eight tiger subspecies, five still remain and the Bengal tiger is the most common numbering about half of all wild tigers. Bengal tigers are solitary cats. They live alone and aggressively scent-mark their large territories to keep rivals away. They are powerful nocturnal hunters and they use their distinctive striped coats as camouflage while they lie in wait and stalk their prey. Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs. The cubs cannot hunt on their own until they reach at least 18 months old and will remain with their mothers for two to three years.
