Bengal Tiger Fun Facts for Kids

Bengal Tiger

Bengal Tiger Introduction

The Bengal Tiger, also known as the Royal Bengal Tiger or the Indian Tiger, is a part of the Panthera tigris subspecies. They are native to the Indian subcontinent and have lived there for an estimated 12,000–16,500 years. Bengal Tigers live in the mangrove swamps and dense forests of India, Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, and Nepal. They have coats that are yellow to light orange and are covered in stripes that range from dark brown to black. The belly and interior side of a Bengal Tiger’s legs are white. The color and striped pattern of a Bengal Tiger allows it to naturally camouflage in reeds and grass. Some Bengal Tigers carry recessive genes that result in an all-white tiger with black stripes. White Tigers have a hard time surviving in the wild due to their lack of camouflage. There are only about 200 White Tigers living in the wild today. Female Bengal Tigers usually give birth to litters of one to six cubs. These cubs stay with their mother until they are between three and five years old. Then they leave their mom and go out on their own into the wild. Adult Bengal Tigers are generally very solitary animals, and live and hunt on their own. Bengal Tigers are the second-largest species of tiger in the world. They are also very strong, and have the hauling power of 30 men. Due to the size and strength of Bengal tigers, they have no predators in their natural environment. They are excellent swimmers and use swimming not only as a mode of transportation, but also as a way to hunt. They can kill and haul away large animals, such as buffalo and rhino, but the most common prey for a Bengal tiger are wild deer and pigs. Bengal Tigers are the most populous tiger species, with about 2,500 remaining in the wild. However, due to several different threats, Bengal Tigers are an endangered species and their numbers are decreasing. Poaching is possibly the biggest threat to Bengal Tigers. Poached skins, as well as other body parts, are illegally traded in India, China, and Nepal. Deforestation is also a big threat to the Bengal Tiger population.

Keywords to learn

Recessive: a non dominant trait, passed on only by both parents.

Mangrove: a tree or shrub that grows in chiefly tropical coastal swamps that are flooded at high tide.

About Me

Hey Kids, my name is Bodhi the Bengal Tiger and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species https://www.kids.nationalgeographic.com

Key Data

Order:

Carnivora.
Lifespan:

8-10 years.
Class:

Mammalia.
Scientific name:

Panthera tigris tigris.
Mass:

109kg – 227kg (240lbs – 500lbs).
Length:

241cm – 305cm (95in – 120in).
Region Found:

The forests and mangroves of India, Burma, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Population Status:

Endangered.
Current population trend:

Decreasing.
Diet:

Carnivorous.
Sexual maturity:

3-4 years.

Bengal Tigers are an important predator of the Indian subcontinent. Although Bengal Tigers are the largest group of tigers left in the wild, they are still endangered. The number of remaining Bengal Tigers is decreasing due to poaching, human development, and other factors.

Now that you know more about the Bengal Tiger by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.

Download questions about the Bengal Tiger here: Bengal Tiger (answers are on this page)