The Siberian tiger, also called the Amur tiger, is a critically endangered tiger subspecies. Less than 400 Siberian tigers still live in the wild, most in the Russian Far East. Some Amur tigers can also be found in Northeast China and North Korea. The population was once increasing, but is now declining again due to poaching.
Scientific Name: (Panthera tigris altaica, Panther tigris tigris),
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Interesting Amur Tiger Facts
- They have less stripes than other tigers and their stripes are lighter in color.
- They have manes to keep them warm.
- During the 1940s, they were almost extinct due to hunting.
More About the Amur Tiger
Physical Appearance
The Siberian tiger is the largest cat in the world, growing up to 11 feet long. The cat’s fur is a cream to tawny orange color with dark brown stripes. It is somewhat thick and course. The Siberian tiger has a big head with long whiskers. Males can weigh as much as 700 lbs. The tiger’s tail is approximately 3 feet long. This big cat’s fur is considered relatively thick and coarse.
Habitat (Where Amur Tigers LIve)
Siberian tigers once ranged throughout Northern China, the Korean peninsula and Russia. Today, most of the remaining tigers inhabit the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve in the Primorsky Krai region of the Russian Far East. The Sikhote-Alin mountain range extends over 900 km to Vladivostok, a seaport on Golden Horn Bay near China and North Korea. Some tigers can also be found in China.
Prey
Amur tigers prey on deer, elk and bear; small ungulates (hoofed mammals), hares, rabbits and salmon. The roam greater distances than any other tiger subspecies to find their prey.
Reproduction
Female tigers have litters of two to six cubs every few years. Siberian tiger cubs will remain with their mothers for 2 to 3 years. Only half the cubs will survive their first year. Many die when their mothers are killed by poachers.
Conservation
The Siberian tiger has been hunted to near extinction for its fur and body parts. Even today humans are still responsible for most tiger deaths.
I am a fan of Siberian Tigers. These days, if you look at zoos or other places like this, it seems that the birth rate of tigers is getting higher and higher. If you look at it, there is one more, so I think that even 0.1% of it will escape the extinction crisis. What I’m curious about is whether Siberian tigers are now dying more than they give birth.