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Status: Endangered species. Diet in wild: Deer, wild pig, other mammals. Life span in wild: 15 years. Weight: 220 to 380 pounds. Native habitat: India and scattered throughout southeast Asia. Send an e-card featuring Cita! IT'S FREE! Think you want a tiger?? Read this from the USDA.
In loving memory of "Caesar" 1985-2006
Download a free tiger storybook!
Black Pine Animal Park 1426 W. 300 N. P.O. Box 02 Albion, IN 46701 (260) 636-7383
©2008 Professional Animal Retirement Center, Inc. |
Bengal Tiger
Many people feel the Bengal tiger is the most beautiful of cats because of the vibrant orange and black stripes in their coat. What many don't know is that they sport white spots on the backside of each ear which help baby tigers to see their mothers. Without the spots, which are very visible against a black background, the stripes of a mother tiger would make them almost invisible to the blurry-eyed cubs who trail behind them. India was born to a working circus tiger that was injured by a dog. Needing special care she was adopted by Black Pine and hand-raised. Jai and Cita are the offspring of India and Caesar (now deceased) and were the last tigers born at Black Pine before a no breeding policy was adopted.
To see our scrapbook of how we built a new tiger habitat for Luna, Montrose and Darly in just under two weeks, and to see lots of photos click here! Ever wonder how we tell the tigers apart? Click here to see an example of how we can tell a tiger by its stripes! Can you say "hello" in
tiger? Here's how! To learn more about keeping tigers as pets, click here. |
The Animals
Download a virtual 'Cita' or 'Jai' puzzle!
Bengal
tigers are native to parts of Asia and India. Although an endangered
species, there are more Bengal tigers than any other kind, with a wild
population of around 5,000
to 7,000.
The conservation efforts of many
organizations are aimed to
save the Bengal tiger, as well as their
relatives which include the Sumatran and Siberian tigers. Without their
help and the general public's support, we may see these beautiful cats
become extinct in the wild within the next 10 years. That's one of the
reasons Black Pine is so pleased to be able to introduce you to six Bengal
tigers: Montrose (top left), Cita (above right,) Jai (above left),
Darly (below right), Luna (below
left), and India (not pictured). 
Luna, Montrose and Darly
(a "tabby" whose father was a "white" tiger) were all
rescued from a facility that used to be an active breeding operation,
supplying cats to circuses and other commercial ventures. Unfortunately, they were found living in squalor when state officials were
called in to inspect following the revocation of the facility's federal
license to operate. They were rescued by Black Pine in
September, 2005 while dozens of other animals were taken in by other
sanctuaries in Indiana and elsewhere.