Sumatran Tigers News

13-Dec-2010 The Montgomery Zoo has two new Sumatran tigers, one male and one female. These are the smallest of all surviving tiger subspecies. Male Sumatran tigers average 6 feet, 8 inches in length from head to tail and weigh about 300 lb. Females average 6 feet, 6 inches in length and weigh about 200 lb. Its stripes are narrower than other subspecies of tigers' stripes, and it has a more bearded and maned appearance, especially the males. Its small size makes it easier to move through dense rain forests. It has webbing between its toes that, when spread, makes Sumatran tigers very fast swimmers. It has been known to drive hoofed prey into the water, especially if the prey animal is a slow swimmer.

The Sumatran tiger is only found naturally in Sumatra, a large island in western Indonesia. Its habitat ranges from lowland forests to sub-mountain and mountain-forests, including peat swamp forests and soon at the Montgomery Zoo. The Sumatran Tiger can be seen on exhibit in the Asian realm at the Montgomery Zoo beginning in January 2011.

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