Today is International Tiger Day, a global celebration of one of the planet’s most iconic and endangered species.
Tigers are the largest members of the cat family, outpacing lions and jaguars in both size and strength. The Siberian tiger, the biggest of the subspecies, can tip the scales at up to 675 pounds and is capable of taking down prey twice its size.
What makes tigers even more fascinating is their unique set of stripes, as individual as human fingerprints. These stripes serve more than just a stylish flair — they’re crucial for camouflage in forested environments filled with vertical shadows. Their orange coloring may even help them blend in, as many of their prey are color blind and likely perceive them as green.
Once widespread across Asia, tigers now occupy less than 7% of their historical range. From the cold forests of the Russian Far East to the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia, these big cats are highly adaptable — but they need our help to survive.
India currently hosts the largest population of wild tigers, with an estimated 3,700 roaming free. Globally, about 5,500 tigers remain in the wild. Alarmingly, more tigers live in captivity in the U.S. than in the wild — many kept in private hands outside of accredited zoos. In 2022, the U.S. took a major step forward by banning private ownership of tigers and other big cats.
Tigers are generally solitary and nocturnal, preferring to hunt alone under the cover of darkness. They’re ambush predators, relying on stealth, patience, and sheer power to bring down prey. Their diet mainly consists of deer, but they’re opportunists, also eating wild boar, fish, birds, and even insects.
They can travel up to 20 miles in a single night in search of food and can sprint at speeds of 28 miles per hour during a chase. Despite their massive size, they’re excellent swimmers, known to cross rivers as wide as 5 miles and soak in the water on hot days.
Though solitary, tigers show unexpected moments of cooperation and compassion. Unlike lions, male tigers will sometimes share kills with nearby females and cubs, allowing them to eat first — a rare trait among large carnivores.
Tigers are a symbol of strength, beauty, and mystery — so much so that in a 2004 global poll, they were named the world’s favorite animal, narrowly beating out the dog. But this beloved animal is in danger. Over the past 150 years, their range has shrunk by a staggering 95%, and their survival depends on continued conservation efforts.