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Amur tiger
"Prey can be so large and heavy that it would take 5 adult humans to move it. The tiger does this alone!"
Discover in real lifeHabitat:
eastern Russia and China, in forests
Food:
meat
Lifetime:
8 to 10 years
Weight:
female 110-170 kg and male 190-300 kg
Number of young:
1- 7 young
Gestation period:
3.5 months
IUCN status:
endangered
EEP:
yes
About the Amur tiger
The Amur tiger is the largest feline in the world. Tigers are solitary and, like most felines, prefer to live alone. Males usually live in a larger habitat than females. They mark their habitat with scent by urinating everywhere, thus marking their territory. Tigers are the only felines with stripes. The stripes allow tigers to hide well in the forests they live in. This way, they do not stand out and can stalk and catch their prey unseen.
Habitat and threats
The Amur tiger lives in eastern Russia and China in vast and dense forests. Tigers have thick fur which makes them well adapted to the cold. Earlier, they also lived in much of Korea and China. In the 1940s, only an estimated twenty Amur tigers in the wild, this was due to the hunting of the tiger. Russia then worked to protect both the tiger and its prey animals, as a result of which some 400 to 500 Amur tigers now live in the wild again.
The Amur tiger is listed as endangered on the IUCN list. Tigers are hunted illegally for their fur but also because it is believed in many Asian countries that tiger body parts can be used as medicine. For example, the tail is thought to cure skin problems, tiger bones help with rheumatism, headaches and back pain, the teeth reduce fever and the claws reduce sleeplessness.
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Species conservation in AquaZoo Leeuwarden
Did you know that more than 10,000 animal species in the world are in danger of extinction? AquaZoo works with about 325 European zoos to conserve these species. Through management programs (EEPs)we ensure healthy reserve populations. Together, we form the European Association of Zoos (EAZA).
The Amur tigers at AquaZoo are also part of an EEP. A coordinator maintains a pedigree of the species and manages the population in zoos. Together with a committee, the coordinator gives advice on which animals are allowed to have cubs together. Sometimes that means moving an Amur tiger to another zoo. This way we increase the chance of healthy cubs and the survival of the species. You can recognize animal species with an EEP by the logo of a rhino with a calf.
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Species conservation in the wild
AquaZoo supports nearly thirty conservation projects around the world through the Wildlife Foundation. This includes helping the Amur tiger in the wild. Each year, the Wildlife Conservation Society receives a donation to help Amur tigers in Russia. WCS is working in eastern Russia to prevent or resolve human-tiger conflicts, conduct research and protect Amur tigers from illegal poaching.
Learn more about WCS