Amur tiger

THE STRIPED HUNTER

The large predator with orange fur and dark brown stripes is unmistakable. The tiger is one of nature's most extraordinary predators – and the Amur tiger, which you can see here at the zoo, stands out in more ways than one.

With its orange-yellow eyes, black-and-white ears, and powerful, muscular body, the Amur tiger is built for hunting. It is primarily active at night and spends much of the day resting and conserving energy. When it hunts, it must be fast. The Amur tiger can take down very large prey – in some cases animals weighing up to 900 kg! Its strong hind legs provide explosive acceleration, while the massive forebody and broad front paws with sharp claws allow it to grasp and hold onto its prey. The tiger prefers to launch an ambush attack, using its camouflage to get very close before striking.

Still, success is far from guaranteed. In fact, only about one in ten hunts succeed. When it does, the tiger can eat up to 40 kg of meat at once. The rest is stored so the meal can continue later.

The Amur tiger spends most of its life alone. Only during the mating season do male and female tigers meet. This typically happens in the winter months, December and January, when the female releases pheromones through her urine that males can detect over long distances. Once a male has located a female, mating takes place over four to six days – the female is fertile for only three to four of those days. After mating, the male and female separate again. The female always raises the cubs alone.

After a gestation period of about 3 to 3.5 months, the female tiger finds a sheltered spot – often well hidden and protected from wind and weather. Here she typically gives birth to two to four cubs. The cubs are covered in fur at birth, but their eyes are closed. They open their eyes for the first time after 10 to 12 days.

For the first weeks, the cubs nurse from their mother. After about eight weeks, they begin to follow her and taste solid food. After 4 to 6 months, they live entirely on the prey she catches, and only when they are 18 to 22 months old do they start hunting themselves. Often, the cubs stay with their mother for up to three years before leaving her and venturing out on their own.