Tigers

The largest of all cats, the tiger is also the largest living solely carnivorous land-dweller. Restricted to the Asian continent, tigers were once widespread, but due to habitat destruction and poaching, they now exist in a few small regions that provide the forest cover, ample water supply and hunting opportunities they require.

Tigers can easily be distinguished by their reddish or golden fur marked by black vertical stripes. These stripes allow the tiger to camouflage itself among trees and may also allow individuals to distinguish each other, since each tiger has a unique stripe pattern.

Tigers are solitary animals and with the exception of females and their young, they live and hunt alone. They maintain large territories to ensure ample hunting opportunities and will fiercely defend their territories from intruders. Unlike most other cats, tigers enjoy water and will often swim in lakes or rivers to cool off on a hot day.