My Science School

The Siberian tiger can reach a record-breaking 3.3 m long — that’s about six times longer than a pet cat. This tiger is very rare and lives in the mountains of northern China and Russia. Its long, off-white, striped fur keeps it warm and hidden in the snow.

How big is a tiger’s paw?

Huge - almost as big as a grown-up’s head! Even a gentle swipe of its paw would easily knock you off your feet.

Is it true? Tigers don’t attack a victim which looks them in the eye.

Yes. Tigers usually attack from behind. In Southeast Asia, people sometimes wear masks that act as fake faces, on the backs of their heads.

Amazing! The cub of a male tiger and a female lion is called a tigon. Lions and tigers are so closely related that they have been bred together in zoos. Ligers are the cubs of a female tiger and a male lion.

How many tigers are there?

There are five main types of tiger - the Siberian, South Chinese, Sumatran, Indochinese and Indian. The number of tigers has fallen faster than for any other cat. There are fewer than 5,000 in the world today.

Picture Credit : Google

Over short distances, the cheetah tops 100 kilometres per hour, and no animal can beat that. Cheetahs reach such high speeds partly because their dog-like claws work like running shoes and give them a good grip. But the speed king soon runs out of puff. If an impala keeps ahead for more than 500 metres, its life is saved — at least this time!

Amazing! The average cheetah hunt is over in seconds! A cheetah may spend hours lazing about lying in wait, but it normally runs down its prey within 300 metres. It takes the cat less than 20 seconds to catch its meal!

How does the cheetah kill its prey?

The cheetah lives on the African grasslands. It usually chases animals such as antelopes, gazelles, or even ostriches. When it catches up with its fast-running prey, it fells and kills it by clamping its strong jaws on to its neck.

Is it true? Cheetahs are spotted all over.

No. The cheetah is mostly spotted, but its tail is striped. And the king cheetah, which is extremely rare, has stripes on its back where the spots have joined up.

Where do cheetah cubs live?

Cheetah mothers don’t have a permanent den. Instead, they move their cubs around a couple of times each week. This stops other big cats finding and preying on them.