TIME: Cats Up Close

THOMAS MANGELSEN / MINDEN PICTURES

CATS UP CLOSE


	1 of 8

TIGER
(Panthera tigris)
LENGTH 57 in. to 114 in.
MAXIMUM WEIGHT 573 lbs.
EST. POP. 5,000 to 7,000
STATUS Endangered
THREATS Hunted for body parts used in Chinese medicine; habitat and prey depleted
HABITAT Forests and woodlands, tallgrass jungles, mangrove swamps
MAN EATER? Yes
Can consume 90 lbs. of meat in one day. Favors attacking from behind; Indian farmers in tiger country wear masks with eyes on back of their heads to prevent attacks. Three subspecies—Caspian, Balinese and Javan tigers—became extinct in the past century

QUICK LINKS: Nowhere to Roam | Big Cats As Friends | Cats Up Close