Fascinating Facts

  1. Tigers are solitary animals and come together primarily for mating. Tigresses give birth to litters of 2 or 3 cubs after a gestation period of 3 to 4 months. The cubs become independent after about 2 years.
  2. Tigers have lost most of their natural habitat. Much has been converted into farms, and they no longer have the land they need to roam in search of food or to raise their young.
  3. Tigers are an endangered species. They are protected by international law and national laws all over the world. In the United States, the acquisition and use of tigers is tightly controlled. The tigers you see in The Greatest Show On Earth® were bred in captivity.
  4. Tigers are the largest living felids. A tiger typically grows to be 40 inches tall at the shoulder, 9 feet long and 500 pounds in weight.
  5. Tigers are divided into eight subspecies, but only five are living today. The largest of these is the Siberian tiger, with the record holder weighing in at 845 pounds!
  6. Tigers can live in almost any habitat, from tropical rain forests to snow-covered regions.
  7. Tigers have a life expectancy of about 15 years in the wild. They often live a full 33 percent longer in captivity: up to 20 years.