Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

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Sumatran Tigers

Habitat and Distribution: Found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra in lowland and montane forests.

Size: Up to 7-8 feet in length, about 2+ feet tall at the shoulder; 195-300 pounds (females are generally 75-100 pounds smaller than males)

Wild Diet: Wild pig, deer, tapirs, will actually eat anything it can catch

Predators: Humans, young tigers can fall prey to other tigers, leopards, and snakes

Lifespan: 10-12 years in the wild; 18-20 years in zoos

Reproduction: Maturity is reached by 3-4 years of age. Gestation lasts 100-110 days. Average litter size is 2-4 cubs. Cubs weigh a little over two pounds at birth and nurse about 6-10 weeks. By 18 months of age tigers are ready to be out on their own and hunt their own food.

Behavior: Tigers are generally solitary animals. Both male and female tigers map out their own territory by spraying urine on trees, bushes, and the ground. The specific range size of the Sumatran tiger is not known, however the population density is approximately 4-5 adult tigers per 40 square miles in lowland rainforest. Tigers are not very active most of the time. They sleep about 18-20 hours a day. Sumatran tigers are also a cat that enjoys the water and will swim to cool down in the hot jungle.

Interesting Facts:

• Tigers are excellent swimmers and can easily cross rivers and lakes five miles wide.
• They are the largest members of the cat family. 
• The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of the tiger subspecies and has the darkest coat. 
• All tigers have suffered from poaching, as well as loss of habitat to human settlement, and conflict with farmers over tigers hunting their farm-raised animals. 
• At one time, tigers could be found as far west as eastern Turkey. Now tigers are only found in areas of eastern and southern Asia.