11 Amazing Siberian Tiger Facts for Kids [UPDATED Facts]
The Siberian tiger is also known as the Amur tiger, Manchurian tiger, Ussurian tiger, and Korean tiger. It is the world’s largest cat. It is closely related to the Bengal tiger, the Caspian tiger, and the Malayan tiger.
It is very similar in looks to the Bengal tiger, and both are often bred together in captivity to produce a white tiger. You can read more about the white tiger in our article – 11 Engrossing Facts about White Tigers for Kids.
It is majorly found in eastern Russia. We have listed some amazing Siberian tiger facts for kids below. We hope that you will find this article interesting.
11 Most Interesting & Fun Facts about Siberian Tigers for Kids
The Siberian tiger almost got extinct but survived and made its way back into the wilds. But it is still listed as a threatened tiger species which needs protection from illegal hunting and poaching. Let us read more about these largest cat’s behaviour and unique characteristics.
1. It is the world’s largest cat
The Siberian tiger is the largest among the tiger species. The average body length of the Siberian tigers ranges between 70 – 82 inches. The tails of the males and females measure up to 39 inches and 36 inches, respectively.
The males are bigger than the females. The average weight of the Siberian tigers is around 350 pounds but can reach up to 600 pounds.
2. The habitats of the Siberian tigers
Eastern Russia housed almost 95% of the Siberian tiger population. Some of them are also found in northern China, depending on the movement of the tigers across the Russian border.
Their range of movement is greater than the other tiger species. They can travel from the South to the North in eastern Russia, which is around 620 miles long journey in search of food.
3. They have unique stripes
Like the other tiger species, Siberian tigers also have a unique striped pattern that is similar to human fingerprints. Every individual has separate patterns. The colour of the fur coat is usually pale, but it can vary in length and form from one tiger to the other.
Sometimes the tigers differ in fur colour as some may have lighter fur colour than the other. They have thick and coarse fur, which protects them from cold temperatures.
4. Survivors of the snow
The Siberian tigers are the only tiger species that lives in cold temperatures. They have physically adapted to survive in the snow-covered areas. They have thick fur with a layer of fat under their skin which protects them from the harsh climatic conditions and keeps them warm.
The Siberian tigers do not sit idle for long and rest. They are constantly moving, which also helps in keeping themselves warm.
5. They are territorial
Siberian tigers are solitary animals and mark their territory by marking on the rocks and trees. Males can never be seen sharing the same space, but a single male tiger can allow 2 – 4 female tigers to roam in its territory. They can even share a meal.
Apart from that, a female tiger can be seen taking care of its cubs. The cubs are trained to hunt their food by eight weeks of age so that they can get independent soon and separate from their mother.
6. The food habits of the Siberian tiger
The Siberian tiger needs at least 20 pounds of food every single day to survive the cold temperatures. They can eat up to 60 pounds of meat in a single meal when hungry.
They feed on large animals such as deer, wild boar, elk, lynx and bears. If they can not hunt on large mammals, they hunt for smaller prey such as fish, rabbits and mice.
7. The hunting habits
Siberian tigers are very dangerous and fierce animals. They are known to hunt alone, and you will rarely see a group of tigers, known as a streak, in wilds. They hunt through stalking in winters and by hiding and attacking by surprise in summers.
They have 3 – 4 inches long canines. Hunting does not come by instincts in a Siberian tiger. It learns to kill for food from its mother.
8. The life span of the Siberian tigers
Siberian tigers have been known to live for around 10 – 15 years in the wilds. But it faces troubles like shortage of prey due to deforestation and habitat loss due to various activities of humankind.
During such times it has to rely on smaller mammals for its survival which affects the average lifespan of these tiger species. However, it can survive up to 20 – 25 years in captivity due to regular feeding and no outside danger prolonging its lifespan.
9. The cultural significance of the Siberian tigers
The Siberian tiger is the national animal of South Korea. It has been respected and honoured in many cultures. The Tungusic people considered it a near deity figure and called it “Old man” or “Grandfather”.
It was referred to as “Amba” by the Udege and Nani people. It was considered “Great Emperor” by the Chinese and Udege people because of the mark on its forehead.
10. The Siberian tiger cubs
The Siberian tigers weigh around 2 pounds at birth and are known as cubs. The cubs are born blind and can open their blue eyes only after a period of 7 days. The tigress mother carries the babies inside her for 3 – 3.5 months.
The litter can have up to 7 babies, but not all of them survive. On average, only 2 cubs survive out of a single litter. The Siberian tigress can give birth at any time of the year, but it gives birth only once every two years.
11. Threat to the Siberian tigers
This tiger subspecies almost got extinct in the early 20th century. The species was completely wiped out of Korea when it was under the rule of Japan. It got legal protection in the year 1947 from the Soviet Union.
The species got labelled as critically endangered species in the 1990s. However, the population managed to increase and ranges between 400 – 500 tigers in the world.
Illegal poaching and hunting along with deforestation were the primary reasons for the decline in the tiger population.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The average weight of a Siberian tiger is around 350 pounds.
The Siberian tigers range between 70 – 82 inches in body length.
They can run at a speed of 50 – 60 miles per hour.
The scientific name of the Siberian tiger is Panthera tigris altaica.
They feed on Siberian musk deer, roe deer, wild boar, Manchurian sika deer, moose, unsure brown bear, long-tailed goral and Manchurian wapiti.
They are known to live in harsh climates of the snow forest, boreal forest, and birch forest.
The Siberian tigers are from eastern Asia.
They have around three and a half feet shoulder height.
In the wild, the Siberian tigers have a life of around 10 – 15 years whereas, in captivity, they can live up to 20 years on average.
It has a reddish rusty or rusty yellow coloured skin coat with black or dark brown stripes.
There are no predators of the Siberian tigers in the wild. The humans are the real threats to them.
The Siberian tigers are a critically endangered species.
Poaching by humans and habitat loss are the main reasons for them being endangered.
At present, there are only 400 – 500 Siberian tigers left in the world.
These were the interesting Siberian tiger facts for kids. The population is far from being extinct, but it still needs conservation to continue roaming in the wilds like other tiger species such as the Bengal tiger.
You can read more about the Bengal tigers in our article – 11 Fascinating Facts about Bengal Tigers for Kids.
