Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219418
Sumatran Tiger
Panthera tigris sumatraeTigers are solitary apex predators whose distinctive striped coats provide exceptional camouflage across dense forests, grasslands, and mangrove swamps. They hunt primarily by ambush, stalking large ungulates at dusk and dawn with stealthy approaches followed by explosive bursts of speed. Extensive home ranges are defended vigorously through scent-marking, claw scoring on tree trunks, and deep vocalizations such as chuffs and resonant roars.
Apex PredatorCarnivoreNocturnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Wild Boar
- Sambar Deer
- Chital
Predators
Not available
ThreatsPoaching, habitat fragmentation, retaliatory killing, and prey depletion
HabitatsTropical rainforests, peat swamps, grasslands, and temperate forests
Life span10–15 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyFelidae
- SpeciesPanthera tigris sumatrae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Apex predator capable of fatal attacks; keep maximum distance and remain inside enclosed vehicles.
- Why it is dangerous
- Exceptional bite force, heavy body mass, and predatory ambush instincts make physical encounters extremely dangerous and often fatal.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Orange to reddish-brown coat patterned with dark vertical stripes, white markings on the face and belly, and a massive muscular build.
- What to do
- Never approach on foot, never turn your back or run if sighted, and back away slowly while facing the animal.
- What to notice
- Solitary nature and dense jungle habitat make direct visual detection uncommon; pugmarks and scrape marks reveal their presence.
- Support conservation
- Support established national parks, maintain buffer corridors, and avoid sharing real-time GPS coordinates of wild tiger sightings.
Responsible observation
- Vehicle Safety: Stay entirely inside enclosed safari vehicles with windows closed when passing through tiger habitat.
- Distance Awareness: Never attempt on-foot tracking and avoid cubs, as protective mothers defend offspring aggressively.
- Ranger Guidance: Strictly observe park speed limits and adhere to professional guide instructions during sightings.
Same Genus "African Lion" by Mathias Appel is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. · cc0
Competitor (c) Raja bandi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Raja bandi · cc-by
Prey (c) Rashityagi, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Prey Valentin Panzirsch / CC BY-SA 3.0 at · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) Ramesh Shenai Jr., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ramesh Shenai Jr. · cc-by
Same Genus (c) Charles J. Sharp , some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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