Where does the Bengal tiger live?
The Bengal tiger lives in India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and south-western China. The largest population is in the nature parks of Bengal and Bangladesh. It is a versatile tiger: it frequents dense or open forest, savanna and marshes. It needs a large home range, because it marks and defends a territory that can exceed 100 km² for a male.
What does the Bengal tiger eat?
The tiger is a solitary animal: it hunts alone the forest and grassland animals it preys on. A tiger has several dens in its range and uses whichever suits it best at the time. It generally sleeps in the forest and moves about in the morning and late in the day, across open savanna and along marshes, looking for water and prey. Females reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years old, males at 4-5.
Is the Bengal tiger endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Endangered. It is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation of its range. In 2022, its population was estimated at 3,167–3,682 individuals in India, 316–355 in Nepal, 131 in Bhutan and around 125 in Bangladesh. Thanks to protection efforts by the Indian government, it has been growing for several years. It is the national animal of India and Bangladesh.
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