| Latin Name: | Panthera tigris altaica |
| Category: | Mammals |
| Fun Facts: |
- Because they used to be found throughout Siberia and surrounding areas, Amur tigers were often called Siberian tigers. Now endangered, they are no longer found in Siberia.
- These tigers got their “new” name from the Amur River, which runs through the area where they are found in Russia.
- There are only about 350-450 Amur tigers left in the wild.
- Except for mothers and their young, Amur tigers usually live alone.
- Tigers are the biggest cats in the world, and Amur tigers are the biggest type of tigers. An adult male can weigh up to 800 pounds and an adult female can weigh up to 500 pounds.
- Though your pet cat probably does not like water, the Amur tiger is a very good swimmer. It will often lie in a po
 ol of water to keep cool on a hot day and can easily cross a river that is three to five miles wide.
- Amur tigers can live between 15 and 20 years in the wild. However, because of illegal hunting and loss of habitat, these cats often do not die a natural death.
- Just like lions, tigers can roar but they can also growl, snarl, grunt, spit, hiss and meow to “talk” to each other. A tiger’s roar can be heard a mile away.
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| Information: |
Amur tigers live in the forests of Eastern Russia, northeastern China, and the northern regions of North Korea. These forests can look like jungles in the summer, but they become very cold and snowy in the winter. Though an Amur tiger can’t put on a coat like you can, it has special ways of being ready for the weather. It has the thickest fur, with the most hairs per square inch, of any type of tiger. Under its fur it has a layer of fat that also protects it from the cold. Its large paws help it cross the snow, as though it is wearing its own snowshoes! The Amur tiger has fewer stripes and a coat that is lighter in color than other types of tigers. It also has a white chest and belly. This coloring helps it to hide in its snowy surroundings.
Since the Amur tiger can weigh up to 800 pounds, why would it want to hide? The tiger wants to blend in with its surroundings so that it can sneak up on its prey. When the tiger sees a good meal like an elk or wild boar, it creeps through the grasses and trees and gets as close behind the animal as it can. When it thinks the time is right . . . POUNCE!
An Amur tiger can run about 35 m.p.h., which is pretty fast. But, with its heavy body, it can only run that fast for about 30 or 40 feet. This means that most of the time, the tiger misses its prey and has to try again. When the tiger has finally killed its prey and eats its fill, it will cover the animal with leaves and grasses to save the rest for later meals. A tiger needs about 330 pounds of meat a month to survive—that’s about 44 hamburgers a day!
 Amur tigers are critically endangered. One reason for this is habitat loss. The forests in which tigers live are becoming smaller because they are being cleared to get lumber and to make roads. The animal populations become smaller too, and tigers cannot find the prey they need to survive. Another major reason tigers have become endangered is illegal hunting by poachers. Tiger parts can be sold for lots of money because they are thought to have special powers and have been used in traditional Chinese medicines for more than a 1,000 years. |
| Habitat: |
Located in the Asia Quest Region. The tiger’s exhibit features a large pool with a heated and air conditioned area adjacent. This makes a comfortable place for the tigers to spend some time and also be close for visitors to see. They also have a large heated/air conditioned cave which is a favorite hang out spot! The covered viewing area offers information about tiger populations in the wild, both past and present. A conservation coin wall is nearby and rewards donors with special tiger sounds when they contribute. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this coin drop go to support conservation of animals in mainland Asia.
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