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Introduction
The national animal is the symbol of the country’s natural wealth. The choice of animal to be chosen as a national animal may be based on several aspects. It should have a rich heritage and reflect the nation’s culture and heritage.
The national and native animal of India is the Royal Bengal Tiger. It is majestic and deadly. Following the Inception of Project Tigers in 1973, in response to the decreasing numbers of tigers in India, the government of India announced the Royal Bengal Tiger as its country’s animal of the year.
The combination of power, agility and unbeatable strength has made the Tiger the official animal of India.
The Reason Behind Declaring Tiger as the National Animal of India
The Gujarat Natural History Society in 1948 led a well-organised campaign that forced Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, to choose the Asiatic lion, as the national animal. In 1972, the Bengal tiger was chosen as the nation’s animal at a meeting that the Indian Board held for Wildlife.
The primary reason to support the decision was the fact that the Tiger was known globally and spread across sixteen states in the nation. Also, the other reason was that the Asiatic lion was only present in Gir within Gujarat.
Despite the number and the vast territory of Bengal tigers, government officials established an exclusive National Tiger Conservation Authority in 2005. Even with Asiatic lions in danger of extinction no authority exists like this conservation authority on the national scale.
Distribution
This tiger is present throughout the Indian subcontinent. It includes India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. If we talk about India, it is present in all parts of the nation, excluding the northeastern regions.
You can find lions in the forest areas in West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. India currently hosts 70 % of the world’s tiger population.
Habitat
If we talk about the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tigers, they occupy numerous habitats throughout India. They are present in subtropical and tropical forest areas (Corbett in Uttarakhand/Periyar Kerala), grasslands or desert scrublands (Ranthambore within Rajasthan), and Mangroves (Sunderbans.) Also, you can find them in both dry and wet deciduous forests (Kanha and Simlipal in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha).
Behaviour
Royal Bengal tigers are mostly single and rarely make up packs. They are territorial in nature, and they have territorial boundaries. Their territory’s size is contingent on the quantity of prey. They typically mark their territory by urination, anal glands and claw marks.
Females of the species usually are with their cubs until they reach adulthood. Royal Bengal Tigers are nocturnal animals. They are sedentary in the sunlight and hunt their prey at night. They are great swimmers and can climb trees easily despite their huge bodies.
Facts About Tigers Present in India
- Male Bengal tigers average a total length of 270 – 300 millimetres (110 to 120 inches) comprising the tail, and females range from between 240 and 265 centimetres (94 to 104 inches) on average.
- The male weight can range between 180 and 258 kg (397 to 569 lbs), and that of females is 100 to 160 kilograms (220 to 350 lbs).
- Tigers have strong legs, as do horses. It has been discovered that a person attacked by a tiger can pass out while bleeding to death.
- A majority of tiger infants don’t survive until adulthood. A newborn cub will remain totally blind for the first week after birth.
- In contrast to what is said about tigers, they don’t fight over prey. Two male tigers were observed sharing the same prey. When a group of tigers share a prey, it’s noticed that male tigers wait for females and cubs to finish their meal, unlike other species.
Physical Abilities of Indian Tigers
- An adult tiger can jump a distance of more than six metres and can leap five metres vertically.
- One hit from the front paw of a tiger is powerful enough to break a bear’s skull or even fracture its spine. With this we know how humans can be affected by a tiger attack.
- Each Tiger has more than 100 stripes across its body, but there are no two tigers with identical stripe patterns.
- White Tigers aren’t a distinct species. They’re white because some regular tigers have lower pigmentation levels on their skins, making them appear white.
- Tigers, unlike other cats, love playing in the water. They are great fishers as well as swimmers. A tiger can travel for miles and search for fish.
