Tiger territory

The size of a tiger's territory depends on prey availability. For example, in fertile areas of India or Nepal where there is plenty of prey, a male tiger only needs from twelve to ninety five square kilometres. In the Russian Far East, where the habitat is less productive and there are fewer prey animals, male tiger territories can be as large as 400 square miles. Female territories are usually smaller.

Tiger territories are not entirely exclusive. Several tigers may follow the same trails at different times, and a male's territory usually overlaps that of several females. Both male and female tigers spray bushes and trees along their route with a mixture of urine and scent gland secretions. This is a way of declaring their territory. They also leave scratch marks on trees, and urinate or leave droppings in prominent places, and make 'scrapes' on the ground to provide olfactory and visual clues to their presence.

Did you know that the oldest tiger fossils are around two million years old and come from northern China and Java?