Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)

The Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest tiger of the species and is currently listed as critically endangered. Tigers are often sought for their fur and various body parts, which are used for their supposed medicinal properties. They are also in danger as their natural habitat gets cleared out and the space used for agriculture and development. It is estimated that there are only about 350-400 Sumatran Tigers left in the wild.

Sumatran Tigers are very isolated, found only on the small island of Sumatra in western Indonesia. It is thought that these tigers were isolated to Sumatra when climate changes caused water to rise, creating the island and stranding all animals that were living in the area. They are found all over the island, in rainforest, mountainous areas, and marshy swamps. They are most often found near a water source in areas where there is a lot of thick underbrush, which is used when the tiger hunts. They are not often found in groups and are not sociable. They will tolerate each other at a local watering hole and will often share food, but they tend to be very territorial and solitary, marking their territories with feces and urine.

Like other tigers, the Sumatran Tiger has deep orange fur, sometimes verging to red, with black stripes. The stripes are unique to each tiger, never falling in the exact same pattern. They have very long back legs, which allow the tigers to jump great distances. They also swim, which is an unusual characteristic for any of the big cats. Even though they are the smallest of the tigers, Sumatran Tigers are still very large, reaching a full mature length of 9 feet (2.7 meters) and a weight of 165-250 pounds (75-114 kg). In the wild, Sumatran Tigers live an average of 15 years.

Interesting Fact: Sumatran Tigers have webbed feet. This allows the tiger to swim easily, and they will often cross more than one river to find food!

Tigers are hunters, and they will eat just about anything that moves. The Sumatran Tiger likes to hide in the underbrush and pounce on its prey, using its long, powerful legs, jaws, and claws to catch and kill their chosen meal. They have extremely good eyesight and hearing, which helps them track their prey. In the wild, their preferred prey seems to be wild boar and deer, and they can eat more than 40 pounds of meat at one time.

Sumatran Tiger females reach full maturity at about three to four years of age, and the males are sexually mature at about four of five years of age. There is only a very short period of about three to six days every three to nine weeks that female tigers are receptive to mating, so male and female tigers will often pair up during this period and stay together, hunting and socializing, until the female is pregnant. The period of gestation is usually about 95-110 days, and the females give birth in hidden, private, out of the way areas and raise the cubs alone. Litters are usually two to three tiger cubs, but a female can carry as many as six. The cubs’ eyes are closed at birth, and they don’t open fully until the young tiger is one or two weeks old. Tiger cubs will nurse for three to six months and will start hunting with their mother at about five or six months. They will stay with their mother, however, until they are fully able to hunt on their own, which doesn’t happen until the cubs are at least 18 months to 2 years old.

Tigers have their own means of communication. They will often rub their faces together, taking in each other’s scent. They also communicate vocally with growls, grunts, and roars. They also use body language, mostly used with their tails, which can convey many different emotions.

Further Information on the Sumatran Tiger:

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Bibliography:
Tiger. Encarta Encyclopedia, © 2000.
Sumatran Tiger. Accessed August 12, 2004 at www.honoluluzoo.org/Zookeepers_Journal/SumatranTiger_small.doc
Animal Fact Sheets. Accessed August 12, 2004 at http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/tiger/tiger.htm
The Sumatran Tiger Trust. Accessed August 12, 2004 at http://www.tigertrust.info/sumatrantiger/