History of Tigers

Tigers occupy an important place in the Indian culture. Since ages, the tiger has been the symbol of magnificence, power, beauty and fierceness and has been associated with bravery and valor.

The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and is at the apex of the food chain.

Here is a look at our National animal and its various facets.

Tigers are found in a variety of habitats, including tropical and sub tropical forests, evergreen forests, mangrove swamps and grasslands.

In India, tigers are found all across the country in 19 states.

For the better management of tiger habitats, forests have been demarcated as Tiger reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are 29 Tiger Reserves in our country today.(AFP Photo)

Fossils provide clues about the evolution of the tiger. The oldest fossil has been found from northern China and Java.

These show that the tiger evolved more than two million years ago and before the divergence of the lion, leopard and jaguar.

Tigers are not descendents of the sabretooth tiger. The sabretooth belonged to a completely different species called Smilodon fatalis. They were found all over the world around 35-40 million years ago and became extinct around 10,000 years ago.(AFP Photo)

The tiger is believed to have entered India from Northern Asia after the last Ice age.

The oldest fossil remains of the tiger in India was discovered at Karnool cave deposits in Andhra Pradesh, probably in the Pleistocene age.(AP Photo)

White tigers are not a separate sub-species, but are white in color due to an expression of recessive genes. Interestingly, the white tigers are found only among the Indian tigers and can only be seen only in captivity now.(AFP Photo)

The last white tiger reported in the wild was captured in the forests of Rewa in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

White tigers have pink noses, white-to-cream coloured fur, and black, grey or chocolate-coloured stripes. Their eyes are usually blue, but may be green or amber.(AP Photo)

Due to their large body size tigers are not good tree climbers like leopards. They can only climb along large leaning trees. But tigers are excellent swimmers and love water.(AFP Photo)

Tiger cubs are born in litters mostly numbering between 3 and 6 and normally only around two manage to make it to adulthood. They are extremely vulnerable immediately after birth and are totally dependant on their mother for protection at this stage of their lives.(AFP Photo)