Are scavengers and around half of their diet is provided by carrion. They scavenge animals either dead from natural causes (disease) or killed by other predators. The lioness hunts, while the male lion watches and protects the pride. Since they cannot run for long periods of time to chase their victims, they usually stalk them and sneak up on them in the night. The prey c***ists mainly of medium-sized mammals, with a preference for wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, and warthogs in Africa and nilgai, wild boar, and several deer species in India.

Tigers feed mostly on large and medium-sized animals, preferring native ungulates weighing at least 90 kg (200 lb). Sambar deer, chital, barasingha, wild boar, gaur, nilgai and both water buffalo and domestic buffalo are some of the eating preferences of the tiger in India. In other places, they also prefer sika deer, moose, roe deer, musk deer, brown bears, boars, orangutan and even certain types of fishes.

Sexual Maturity

24 - 28 Months in Captivity; 36 - 46 Months in Wild

24 - 28 Months in Captivity; 36 - 46 Months in Wild

Reproduction

Reproduction happens after the lioness turns 4 years of age. They mate year around and the lioness can mate year round. Average gestation period is 110 days.

Mating and reproduction happens year around, but is more common during months of November and April. A female is only receptive for three to six days. Gestation can range from 93 to 112 days, the average being 105 days.

Children

The cubs are born blind and do not have vision until a week after birth. They weigh 1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lb) at birth and are almost helpless, beginning to crawl a day or two after birth and walking around three weeks of age. The children wean at the age of 6-7 months and reach maturity at about 3 years of age

A litter has around two to three cubs, with some ranging even to 6. Cubs weigh from 680 to 1,400 g (1.50 to 3.09 lb) each at birth, and are born blind and helpless. The females rear the cubs alone in a sheltered den. The cubs open their eyes at six to fourteen days old. By eight weeks, the cubs make short ventures outside the den with their mother. The cubs wean at the age of 3 to 6 months.

Dangers

Starvation, predation by jackals, hyenas, leopards, martial eagles, and snakes. Buffalos sometimes kill cubs by stampedes.

Starvation and poaching are the most common dangers for tigers. Many people in China believe various tiger parts have medicinal properties, including as pain killers and aphrodisiacs.

Purposefulness to humans

They were initially used for hides and meat, but today they are more useful as stuffed throw rugs, pets and spectators at zoos.

Initially used for their hides and for being trained and paraded and forced to fight humans and other exotic beasts.

Cultural depicti***

The lion has been an icon for humanity for thousands of years, appearing in cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are also used to symbolize royalty and stateliness, as well as a symbol of bravery. They were also c***idered as gods in Egypt and India.

They are also c***idered one of the chari**atic megafauna. It is also one of the 12 animals that are part of the Chinese Zodiac. The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese c***tellati***. The Tungusic peoples c***idered the Siberian tiger a near-deity and often referred to it as "Grandfather" or "Old man". In Hindui**, the god Shiva wears and sits on tiger skin.