| Tiger, Siberian | |||
| Genus | Panthera | ||
| Species | tigris | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Number Left | Fewer than 200 in wild | ||
| Habitat | Forest; the Siberian tiger is often found in places where there is deep snow - in the mountain forests of Russia and China in the region known as Siberia | ||
| Distribution | Temperate and tropical Asia; as far north as the Arctic Circle in Asia | ||
| Length | (with tail) 9 feet (3 meters) | ||
| Weight | Up to 850 pounds (385 kg) | ||
| Behavior | Siberian tigers have large bodies that help produce more heart in cold weather. | ||
| Diet | Meat | ||
| Feeding | Siberian tigers prey upon mountain sheep and elk, and will hunt domestic sheep and cattle if no other food can be found. Sometimes they eat humans, too - another reason why these cats have been hunted nearly to extinction. | ||
| Conservation |
Though there are very few Siberian tigers remaining in the wild, there are many times that number in zoos and circuses. These animals breed well in captivity, so well that zoos often have to control the number of cubs that are born there.
Unfortunately, zoo-bred tigers are not the same as those born in the wild. Captive tigers don't need to hunt for their food, and this causes problems regarding their return to the wild. Conservation groups around the world hope to save enough of these wild cats so zoo animals will not have to be released for scientific studies. Meanwhile, scientists are still learning more about these mysterious creatures. | ||
| Interesting Facts | The Siberian tiger is the largest tiger on earth. It is also the largest of all the world's cats. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
