Tiger Facts

I absolutely love white tigers! Wouldn't you agree that they are alluring? Maybe it has to do with the fact that they (tigers in general) are the largest of the big cats weighing in at 700 pounds and are nearly 10 feet long. Or perhaps it has to do with their crystal blues eyes that look deep into your soul.

There are currently nine different species of tigers out there, but the bangle tiger makes up 80% of the tiger population. The white tiger is extremely rare in the wild but are widely bred in zoos due to their popularity. It is actually a mutation that causes this to occur. In order for a white tiger to be born, both parents have to carry this rare gene. This gene is so rare that it has been calculated to only occur in one out of every 10,000 births. A huge misconception about these gorgeous tigers is that they are albinos, but that is not true at all. They do have pigment in their stripes, as well as those distinctive blue eyes and pink noses.

If you are a tiger lover or just want to learn some interesting facts about tigers then read on. There are so many interesting facts about these great creatures out there, it is hard to figure out where to start. First of all, all tigers have at least 100 stripes and no two tigers have the same stripes. Just like the domesticated house cat these big cats do indeed purr. But their purr is at least 100 times louder than your kitty cats.
Also, unlike most cats, tigers like the water and are very good swimmers. Also tigers can be found lying in pools or streams on really hot days, because they do not like the heat. Something that I find very interesting is tiger footprints are called “Pug Marks”. Lastly, tigers can go two to three days without eating and they usually sleep a minimal 18 hours a day.

So the next time you visit the zoo or Busch Gardens and happen to come across one the white tigers or the popular bangle tiger you will know a little about these interesting cats. Finally, if you have the opportunity to look one of the white tigers in the eyes do it and see how amazing it is.

Resources:
http://www.tigertales.co.uk/facts.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger