Tigers!

Above: Tiger brothers from the Minnesota Zoo (spring 2007)

Interesting Tiger Facts:

• The word “tiger” is taken from the Greek word “tigris“, which  means arrow. Tigers were given this name due to their speed.
• Most tigers have over 100 stripes, the pattern being unique to each individual.
• Tigers can leap as high as 16 ft. and as far as 33 ft.
• Tigers are noisy breeders, with the female letting out loud cries during the act. (I witnessed this once, it was very…ehem…educational.)
•  The tiger has killed more people than any other cat, although this is usually by old or injured tigers who cannot catch other prey.
• In a poll conducted by Animal Planet, the Tiger was voted world’s favourite animal, narrowly beating “man’s best friend” by 1% with 10,904 votes.
• 12,000 tigers are being kept as private pets in the USA, 4,000 of which are in Texas alone.
• Only nineteen states have banned private ownership of tigers, fifteen require only a licence, and sixteen states have no regulations at all.
• The Tiger is currently the national animal of: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, and North and South Korea.

 Links:

Save the Tiger Fund

Tigers In Crisis

Tiger Tales