The Siberian tiger is considered the largest cat in the world. It has developed some physical adaptations to endure the cold climate of its habitat, such as a dense layer of fat and thick fur. It contains yellowish-red skin with dark, narrow and widely separated dark brown stripes. Furthermore, the chest, belly, inner limbs and the area around the neck are white. Adult male Siberian tigers can weigh up to 320 kg, 700 pounds, while females are significantly smaller, weighing up to 180 kg, or 400 pounds. Siberian tigers average about 3.3 meters, or 11 feet in length, with a tail measuring 1 meter, or 3 feet. Siberian tigers are distinguishable by their uniquely striped fur. Moreover, their fur is similar to human fingerprints in way that no two tigers have the same striped pattern. Siberian tigers differ from other tigers because they have manes and fewer, paler stripes. The mane, in addition to their dense fur, helps to keep them warm in their habitat. In proportion to the rest of its strong body, the legs of the Siberian tiger appear short; however, they are actually very strong and well developed.
The Siberian tiger thrives in forested areas and secluded mountain ranges. In its natural habitat in Eastern Russia, the Siberian tiger centers in a variety of different forests, from Korean pine broadleaf forests to East Asian coniferous areas. This habitat is important in their survival because it is home to the ideal types of prey required required by the tiger. In addition to the Russian Far East, a small number of this species can also be found in China and North Korea. Heavily buried snow areas are not suitable for the Siberian Tiger as their natural prey cannot survive under these conditions, meaning that there is no food essential for survival. Continuingly, they inhabit high latitudes in taiga and boreal forests. Most are primarily located in two small areas of Russia, although their range of distribution is greater compared with other tigers, given the low density of prey. Though their northern climate is far harsher than those of other tigers, these animals have some advantages. Northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and encompass the most complete ecosystem. The vast woodlands also allow tigers far more room to roam, due to Russia's timber industry being less extensive than many other countries.
Tigers thrive alone and advancely mark large territories by scent to keep their rivals away. They are passionate hunters that travel hundreds of miles to capture prey, such as elk, boar, bear and deer, on nocturnal hunts. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage and hunt with slyness. Furthermore, they lie and wait to creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick attack and fatal pounce. A starved tiger can eat as much as sixty pounds in a single sitting. Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers actually avoid humans. The manhunters are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in areas where their traditional prey has become extinct. In terms of reproduction, females give birth to litters of cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are eighteen months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they dissipate to find their own territory. Tigers are well known for their power and strength which usually stir fear among humans. Moreover, the Siberian tiger avoids contact with people, but it may conflict with humans if the tiger is sick, injured or unable to hunt normally.
Siberian Tigers have eccentric anatomical features such as the tail, which measures about 1 meter in length, and is slightly thick with fringes. Its function is to maintain the balance of the body, especially when an the tiger turns or performs abrupt movements. Many papillae cover the tongue, resulting in a rough texture to the touch. The legs and the shoulder regions of tigers are extremely muscular and powerful, which gives them the ability to attack various types of prey swiftly. They also have paws which help them to climb and grasp objects including prey. Interestingly, their hind legs are longer than their front legs which help to increase their ability to jump and pounce. The four legs have pads similar to those of domestic cats, which allow them to creep upon their prey silently. In addition to anatomical features, the physiological features are just as beneficial to the Siberian Tiger’s survival. Their sharpest sense is within the ear and plays an important role during hunting. Tigers have a maximum sensitivity of 300-500 Hz and can hear infrasounds that a human is not capable of hearing. Another significant advantage of Tigers is their eyesight. They can see just as well as humans during the day; however, at night their capacity is six times better than ours making it much easier for them to sneak up on their prey. In addition, they have binocular vision due to the position of their eyes on each side of the head. This feature is helpful in calculating the distance to their prey. They also have more rod than cone cells which means that their vision in the dark is useful for detecting movements. In contrast to the ear, their sense of smell is not nearly as sharp, so it does not play a significant role in hunting. However, it is used for detecting odorous signals from other tigers. Regarding the Siberian tigers sense of touch, the skin or the vibrissae, commonly called whiskers, are the ways they perceive it. All Tigers have five types of vibrissae with sensory nerves to orient themselves, detect dangers and attack. Also, the face has sensitive neurons that detect changes in air pressure when an object passes.
The Siberian tiger is considered an endangered species with its primary threats to survival in the wild being poaching and habitat loss from intensive logging and ecological development. Tigers are most commonly poached for their fur and body parts used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other extreme concern for the survival of the Siberian tiger in the wild is habitat loss while research has demonstrated that Siberian tigers require vast forest landscapes to survive. Logging is threatening the tigers home by dismembering their habitat and isolating them from each other. In addition, the continuous creation of new logging roads provide poachers with access to formerly remote areas. Tiger forests are at risk of logging, urban expansion, conversion to agriculture, mining, fires, road construction, and inadequate law enforcement. Over the last hundred years, hunting and forest destruction have dramatically reduced overall tiger populations. Tigers are primarily hunted as trophies and for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
It is estimated that there are only four to five hundred Siberian tigers left in the world that live in the wild. It is vital that habitat protection and wildlife conservation are not neglected solutions, but an important part of a tiger survival strategy. Habitat loss is only one of several threats to the endangered tiger’s survival. As long as the demand and market for tiger parts in traditional Chinese medicine flourish, lives of tigers will be threatened. Moreover, protection is essential to protect tigers from poachers seeking tiger parts for the market in traditional Chinese medicine. Enforcement, officers, and staff need to be hired, equipped and legally empowered to protect the tiger from illegal hunters continuously. Otherwise, animal specialists at zoos all around the world are paying special attention to endangered animals. Working with conservation groups, tiger specialists are researching tiger nutrition, health, and reproduction so that zoo facilities will safely breed future generations of healthy cubs. Since the tiger is now in serious danger of becoming extinct, alternatives must be found and enforced by those who wish to remain devoted to the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. Today, international conservation and wildlife groups are working passionately to save the tiger from extinction, but the idea of losing the last of the world’s wild tigers within the next few years continues to loom over our shoulders. Hopefully, in the future the tigers will be thriving safely in their habitats and moved off the endangered list for good.
Works Cited
“About the Siberian Tiger.†Russian Geographical Society: About the Siberian Tiger, 2018,
www.rgo.ru/en/projects/protection-endangered-species-siberian-tiger/about-siberian-tiger.
“Amur Tiger.†WWF, World Wildlife Fund, Jan. 2018,
www.worldwildlife.org/species/amur-tiger.
Meyer, Amelia. “Tigers.org.za.†Tigers In Culture And Folklore, 1 Jan. 2013,
www.tigers.org.za/siberian-tiger.html.
Sartore, Joel. “Siberian Tiger.†National Geographic, National Geographic, 21 Sept. 2018,
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/siberian-tiger/.
“Siberian Tiger.†Tiger Facts and Information, 2017, www.tigers-world.com/siberian-tiger/.