Tigers are largest species of cat family, Siberian Tigers are biggest upto 11 feet length weighing upto 660 pounds. No two tigers have the same pattern of stripes. These stripes act like fingerprints, unique to each individual, and help them camouflage in the wild.
Tigers are apex predators with a powerful bite. Their jaws and sharp teeth allow them to take down large prey, such as deer, buffalo, and wild boar. Tigers have excellent night vision, six times better than humans. This makes them efficient hunters in low-light conditions, typically hunting at dawn, dusk, or night.
Tigers are highly territorial animals. They mark their territory with scent markings, scratches on trees, and vocalizations to ward off intruders. Tigers are strong swimmers and enjoy water. They often swim across rivers and lakes and can cover large distances, especially in search of food.
Tiger’s roar can be heard up to 2 miles away. They use their roar to communicate with other tigers, assert dominance, and during mating season to attract potential mates.
Here are 10 Top Iconic Tigers and tigresses of India
- Machli Known as the Queen of Ranthambore Rajasthan, Machli is one of the most famous tigers in the world. She was known for her beauty, hunting skills, and longevity. Machli also played a significant role in increasing the tiger population in Ranthambore.
- Tigress Sita of Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh Featured on the cover of National Geographic, Sita was one of the most photographed tigers in the world. Her lineage includes many of the tigers currently in Bandhavgarh, making her a matriarch of the region.
- Ustad of Ranthambore National Park Rajasthan was a dominant male tiger known for his strength and controversial relocation after allegedly becoming a man-eater, which sparked debates on wildlife management.
- Tigress Collarwali of Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh known as the “Supermom,” Collarwali is famous for giving birth to 29 cubs, the highest recorded for a wild tigress, contributing significantly to the tiger population in Pench.
- Raja of Sundarbans West Bengal known for being one of the oldest living Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans and has survived multiple challenges, including losing a leg to a crocodile.
- Avni of Yavatmal District, Maharashtra gained notoriety for allegedly being a man-eater and was controversially shot dead after a prolonged hunt, sparking widespread debate and protests regarding her fate.
- Tigress Maya of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Maharashtra is known for her bold behavior and has been one of the most photographed and observed tigers in Tadoba, often seen with her cubs.
- Jim Corbett’s Tigress of Champawat Champawat District, Uttarakhand was a notorious man-eater responsible for over 400 human deaths in the early 20th century before being hunted down by the famous hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett.
- Charger of Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh was a legendary male tiger known for his aggressive behavior and fierce protection of his territory. He was a key figure in the resurgence of the tiger population in Bandhavgarh during the 1990s.
- T-25 Zalim of Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan was a unique tiger known for his unusual behavior of caring for two orphaned cubs after their mother, a tigress named Sundari, died. His paternal instincts surprised many and added a new dimension to our understanding of tiger behaviour.
- These tigers and tigresses have left a lasting impact on both conservation efforts and cultural narratives surrounding these magnificent animals.