Tigers are certainly one of the coolest cats out there! Get to know more about the striped felines with our tiger facts for kids.
Let’s take a break from our blog posts for grown-ups and do something fun for the Tiger Cubs! As you all know, I am a tiger – and a unique one at that! There are soooo many other exciting facts about tigers for children that they should know about. Please pass on the information I’m going to give to you grown-ups!
My best friend, Tim Hague, knows a lot about tigers and ME in particular. He read all about it in books and learnt all about my cousins whenever he was at home, when he wasn’t on the TV for the BBC, or when he visited me in the jungle! So Tim (with my help of course), decided to round up the top ten TIGER-RIFFIC facts about tigers – for kids!
- Tigers are the largest wild cat species in the world
I may look all cute and cuddly, but tigers are actually the largest species of wild cats! A typical male adult tiger typically reaches 3.3 metres in length and weighs as much as 670 pounds / 47.86 stone / 303.9 kgs! That’s the combined weight of at least six average-sized human beings. So, six Tim’s would be equal to one tiger. Amazing!
Tigers are also the third-largest land meat-eating animal (known as a carnivore), with only polar bears and brown bears being larger than us. The biggest of all the tigers are the Royal Bengals, who also happen to be the most popular tiger breed.
- A tiger’s stripes are unique
Tigers are a lot like children – we are also unique from one other! Our stripes serve as our identity – no two tigers have the same print. Much like human fingerprints, our stripes are ours alone, and they are our marker from other tigers.
Did you know that our stripes are not only found in our fur? Our tiger marks can also be found on our skin, unlike other cat species! So, the popular saying is true: a tiger earned his (or her) own stripes.
- Tigers can swim very well
There’s a reason why I kept on bugging Tim to go to the beach – that’s because tigers love to swim! Unlike most cats, tigers like water. As young cubs, we love to play in the river for hours to cool off. Tiger mums encourage their cubs to practice their swimming skills every day, too. Our strong legs and webbed paws make it easy for us to swim underwater.
As we grow older, we become one of the best swimmers in the savannah, making tigers skilled hunters on both land and in water! Tigers can even swim up to 17 miles in just one day!
- Tigers have been living on Earth for 2 million years
Tigers are one of the oldest surviving animals on earth. Scientists have discovered the fossil of a tiger that is around two million years old! The fossilised head was found in Longdan, China, in 2004 and closely resembles me – although my ancestor is a bit smaller than the average tiger.
Fossils are remains of an animal or plant that lived on Earth a long time ago. Geologists and scientists study fossils to know more about life on our planet that happened waaaay before us. That includes tigers, for children to learn and understand for years to come! Pretty cool don’t you think?
- A group of tigers is called an ambush or streak
When tigers get together, the group is called an ambush or streak. However, an ambush of tigers is not typical in the jungle because wild tigers prefer to be alone, like most pet cats! An ‘ambush’ or ‘streak’ of tigers would only usually appear when they are hunting together.
But unlike most of my tiger friends in the wild – I am a friendly tiger for kids and even adults! Just ask my good friend, Tim Hague!
- Tigers are humble creatures
If lions are known to be proud (a group of lions is called a PRIDE), tigers are quite the opposite. Tigers don’t roar as much as lions do, especially towards our own kind. Also, male tigers allow their female companion and cubs to eat first. A true gentleman – I mean, gentlecat!
- You can hear a tiger’s roar from 2 miles away
By now, you probably know that I am the only tiger in the world that can’t roar. But my tiger cousins and friends can do it so well! In fact, a tiger’s roar can be heard from 2 miles away! In some cases, even as far as 3 miles!
The four cat species that can roar are tigers, lions, leopards, and jaguars. A particular two-piece hyoid bone in their throats makes it possible for them to make a booming, roaring sound!
- Tigers can run fast, too!
Cheetahs, another wild cat, are known for their speed – they are the fastest animals on land and can run at a top speed of 73 miles per hour. But tigers are quick-footed, too! Our strong legs allow us to sprint as fast as 37 miles per hour – not bad for a heavyweight! Sorry, Tim, but I DO run quicker than you!
- Tiger cubs are born blind
Tiger cubs are cute – just look at me? But another point about us cubs is that we are born blind, and we can’t see anything until we are around two to three weeks old. This means we are entirely dependent on our Mums for protection and care. Our tiger Mums ensure that we are safe and away from harm until we can open our eyes and see correctly, making them super Mums! Much like Tim‘s Mummy Susy Hague!
- There are five subspecies of tiger alive today
Siberian Tiger
Indochinese Tiger
Tigers may look similar for kids, but there are many different kinds of tigers living on Earth. The most popular ones are the Bengal tigers I mentioned earlier. Other subspecies include South China tigers, Indochinese tigers, Sumatran tigers, and the Siberian tigers. We are all found in different parts of the world – some in jungles and savannahs, while others are being taken care of in zoos. I have to say, not a lot of tigers live with human friends!
Caspian Tiger
However, many years ago, there were more than five kinds of tigers roaming the Earth. Some subspecies of tigers have become extinct, like the Caspian, Bali, and Javan tigers. That makes me a sad Tiger Cub.
Tiger and Tim and Tiger Conservation for Kids
Aside from making our online learning videos for kids, Tiger and Tim also helps to make sure that all tigers are safe. Our friends at For Tigers take care of wild tigers in Thailand and other parts of Asia. Tiger and Tim episodes also help children learn valuable lessons on animal responsibility and fostering a love for your own pets – a tiger or otherwise!
See you next time guys! Lots of love, from Tiger xoxoxoxo
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