Royal Bengal Tiger

Panthera tigris tigris

Royal Bengal tiger or Pate Bagh (Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis), is a subspecies of tiger primarily found in Bangladesh, India,Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern Tibet. Once found throughout the Indian subcontinent, the Bengal tiger's natural habitat has drastically reduced due to their increasing  interactions with humans.It is the most common tiger subspecies, living in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, subtropical and tropical rain forests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangroves.


The total length for the males is of 270-310 cm while those of the females is of 240-265 cm; the tail measure 85-110 cm of long and the height at the shoulders is of 90-110 cm.The average weight is 221.2 kg (487.7 lb.) for the males and 139.7 kg (308 lb.) for the females, however those found in the north of India and Nepal have an average weight of 235 kg (518 lb.) for the males and 140 kg (308.6 lb.) for the females.They are able to stay out in cold weather, because their skin is able to handle the temperature all over in any kind of weather. Its coat is yellow to light orange, and the stripes range from dark brown to black; the belly is white, and the tail is white with black rings.


Bengal tigers are classified as obligate carnivores, meaning that they have a diet of strictly meat. Bengal tigers eat a variety of animals found in their natural habitat,
including deer (sambar, chital, barasingha, hog deer and barking deer), wild boars, water buffalo, gaur, nilgai,antelope, and occasionally other ungulates; tigers have also been observed eating small prey, such as monkeys, hares, birds (primarily peafowl), and porcupines, but large and medium-sized ungulates provide the majority of biomass consumed by tigers, and are essential for their survival.


Due to the encroachment of humans on the Bengal tiger's habitat, Bengal tigers also eat domestic cattle, and if injured, old, or weak enough, humans. When a tiger consumes human flesh, it becomes known as a man-eater and will prey on humans. Bengal tigers prey on vulnerability, so they attack the last animal at the end of a herd, kill it, and then drag the animal's carcass to a safe location to consume it.Mating can occur at any time, but happens to be usually between November and April. The females can have cubs at the age of 3-4 years; males reach maturity in about 4 years. After the gestation period of 103 days, 2-5 cubs are born. Newborn babies weigh about 1 kg (2.2 lb).


In Nepal, they are found in terai region mainly Chitwan, Parsa, Bardiya and Suklaphanta. They are endangered species and are placed in the Nepal’s protected list of mammals.IUCN Red Data Book has listed the rhino as “Endangered” and CITES has listed it in “Appendix 1”. 
 

Major threat to Royal Bengal Tiger


Due to the reduction or fragmentation of their natural habitat and poaching activities, their number are drastically reduced. Tiger is a solitary animal and needs a large area for their territory. Due to illegal trading for their bones and skin, their demand are high in international market. Bones are mainly used as traditional medicines while skin is used for fashion and wall decoration.


Role of WCN in Tiger Conservation


Wildlife Conservation Nepal, since its establishment, has been working for the protection and conservation of endangered animals by supporting enforcement agencies like national parks and district forest authorities through critical information leading to arrests of poachers and traders. WCN also carries out training to concerned enforcement agencies and conservation advocacy programs.


End Tiger Trade

                                                                              
                                                                                                      Tiger mosaic

A tiger photo mosaic with photos from nearly 25,000 individuals from 140 countries was made public in the Netherlands on June 7, 2007. Thirty five organizations working for the protection and conservation of the wild tigers, including Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN), gathered in World Forum Convention centre in The Hague to launch the world’s largest photo mosaic with the message to end tiger trade. 

Source: www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2007,
Photo Credit: International Tiger Coalition members in front of the giant tiger mosaic © Astrid Deilmann/WWF www.traffic.org



Campaign Against Tiger Trafficking (CATT) -An organized response to an organized crime
CATT Campaign carried out by WCN in Nepal

 
Nepal launched a CATT campaign through WCN on tiger conservation to Nepal Ex-Police Association (NEPA) in their head office in Kathmandu on September 23, 2005. During this campaign, WCN clearly outlined how NEPA could be associated with WCN and line agencies in addressing tiger trade. Prasanna Yonzon, Chief Executive Officer addressed a gathering of more than 800 Members from all districts of Nepal. WCN provided posters on conservation awareness (with focus to tiger conservation) in that gathering. These ex- police will go back to their districts and propagate tiger conservation at district level. The recent wildlife seizure (279 skins; tigers 5, leopard 36 and the rest otter skins along with 113 kg. of tiger bones at Syabru besi on September 1st 2005 had been highlighted and in the future how NEPA could play a pivotal role in the future. The members are eager to join WCN and related line agencies to begin a nation wide campaign against killing and trading of big cat, because tigers are national properties and heritage as well.