Except in the deserts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Kutch, Bengal Tigers are found throughout India, from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin.

Inhabits grasslands, deciduous, evergreen, temperate as well as mangrove forest.

Total body length: 2.6-3m. Body weight; 135-230 kg.

Nocturnal; leads solitary life; territorial in nature. They are good swimmers and if required, can also climb.

Carnivorous; feed on deer, wild boar, gaur, antelopes, etc.

Breeding occurs all around the year. Usually gives birth to 2 to 3 cubs after a gestation period of 103 to 108 days.

Bengal Tiger is the National Animal of India and is protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Out of eight subspecies of Tiger, Bengal Tiger, Siberian Tiger, Sumatran Tiger, and Indo-Chinese Tiger exist in nature while South China Tiger, Caspian Tiger, Javan Tiger and Bali Tiger are extinct from the world.

(Facts About Bengal Tiger – National Animal of India – The above photo was taken at Zoological Garden, Alipore in Kolkata)