The tiger is a beautiful and proud animal, unfortunately, almost exterminated by people. Of the 9 species of tigers that have existed to date, three have already become extinct over the past few decades.
Amur tiger
This subspecies is also called Ussuriysk or Siberian. It is found in the Russian Far East, as well as in small quantities in the north of China and Korea. The Amur tiger has a large build, its fur is very long and dense, and the number of stripes on it is less than that of other species. The Ussurian is the only subspecies that lives in cold climates. Its belly is covered with a thick layer of fat, and its ears are short and close to the head, which protects them from the wind.
Since 1930, 3 subspecies of tigers have been destroyed - Javanese, Transcaucasian and Bali tigers.
Bengal tiger
Another fairly common subspecies that lives in India and South Asia. Bengal tigers are the largest of all subspecies. The weight of the largest male killed was almost 400 kg. Bengalis also have a loud voice - their roar can be heard several kilometers away. Bengal tigers have an interesting mutation - some cubs are born with white fur covered with dark brown stripes and blue eyes.
Malay tiger
This animal is found exclusively in West Malaysia, but, despite the limited territory, its population is in third place in terms of number. The Malay tiger is the smallest of all subspecies and the youngest. It was only released in 2004. The weight of the individuals is 90-120 kg, and the length is 180-230 cm. This tiger is the national symbol of Malaysia.
The tiger is capable of interbreeding with lions and even giving offspring in the second generation.
Indochinese tiger
This tiger lives in the south of the Indochina Peninsula. Its second name is the Corbett tiger, after the British naturalist who made documentaries about these animals. The Indochinese tiger is dark in color and relatively small in size. Outwardly, the animal is similar to the Malay subspecies. He lives in the forest, leading a secretive lifestyle, so it is not known how long he lives, how he hunts and reproduces.
Sumatran tiger
As the name suggests, this subspecies lives on the island of Sumatra. Sumatran tigers are quite small but very aggressive. The main reason for their extinction is not poachers, but deteriorating environmental conditions. Therefore, the Sumatran authorities are taking all measures to preserve forests and water bodies in their original form.
Chinese tiger
In total, there are 59 individuals of this subspecies in the world - and all are kept in various nurseries in China. The last free Chinese tiger was killed in 1996. After that, the Chinese government began to take urgent measures to conserve these animals. All living individuals are descendants of 6 tigers, initially selected for breeding the subspecies.
