Bengal tiger

The Bengal tiger is one of the most famous tiger subspecies, inhabiting India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal. They live in diverse environments, including grasslands, subtropical and tropical forests, wet and dry deciduous forests, and mangrove swamps.

Male Bengal tigers have a body length (including the tail) of 280–390 cm. The tail of a large male usually measures 85–95 cm. Their weight ranges from 220 to 420 kg. Females have a body length (including the tail) of approximately 240–310 cm and weigh between 100 and 240 kg. The roar of a Bengal tiger can be heard up to 3 km away.

Bengal tigers have strong legs, sharp claws, and powerful jaws that allow them to quickly kill their prey. Unlike most felines, Bengal tigers are excellent swimmers and can cover significant distances across rivers and swamps.

These tigers are unique because some individuals have white fur. Such tigers are not a separate subspecies. Scientists explain this rare coloration as a result of a lack of pigment. White tigers also differ from their orange-coated counterparts by having striking blue eyes.

Although this tiger subspecies is the most numerous, it is still under threat, primarily due to poaching and the destruction of its natural habitat.

P.S. Image attribution: Tisha Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons