Known as the "China Wildlife Paradise", Metuo is located in southeastErn Tibet and is known as the "Lotus Secret Place". Because it is located in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River and the southern foothills of the eastern tip of the Himalayas, it belongs to the landform of the mountains and rivers in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River, and is a subtropical humid climate zone on the east side of the Himalayas, so it is humid and rainy, with beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. There are more than 3,000 kinds of higher plants in the Metuo area, 42 species of wild animals under national key protection, and more than 1,000 species of insects.
Recently, two infrared cameras from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have captured Bengal tigers in meto for three consecutive times, which is the first time that China has taken live pictures of Bengal tigers in the wild. The Bengal tiger in the photo is rushing forward, not knowing what prey it is chasing, it is likely a wild boar, but its two glowing eyes are indeed a little scary.
<h1>01 Bengal tiger appeared in Tibet to hunt wild boar, once biting 3 yaks, eating 2 large ones and dragging away 1 small one</h1>
Tibet Daily reported that in the past two decades, villagers in Gedang Township, Metuo County, have continuously reported that there are many suspected tiger footprints in Metuo. Not only that, some villagers said that they saw a tigress with her cubs chasing a wild boar; and when the villagers went up the mountain to plant corn, they saw a tiger biting 3 yaks on the opposite hillside, of which 2 large ones were eaten and 1 small one was dragged away. However, these are only seen by individual villagers, and there is no definite evidence. The photos of the Chinese Academy of Sciences show that the Bengal tiger is indeed living in the natural environment of southeastern Tibet in China.
In China, the Bengal tiger is mainly distributed in chayu, Metuo, Luozha, Guona, Milin and other places in southeastern Tibet, as well as in the Menyu, Luoyulin and western Yunnan regions. Because it is located near the Himalayas, on the edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the terrain is steep, and tigers often live on high mountains, so the tigers here are also called alpine Bengal tigers.
Experts from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences speculate that there are 8-12 Bengal tigers living in the primeval forest of Metuo County, Tibet, of which about 7 are settled all year round, which is the largest settlement of Bengal tigers in China. Liu Wulin, a wildlife scientist in the Tibet Autonomous Region, is more confident, estimating that there are about 20 tigers in tibet.
According to Xinhua News Agency, there is currently another theory about the number of motuo tigers. Zhu Feng, deputy secretary of Metuo County, said that according to the number of wild Bengal tigers injuring livestock in recent years, there are currently about 40 Bengal tigers living in Gedang Township and Galaxa Township in Metuo County. Because the local people are eaten by Bengal tigers nearly 200-300 cattle every year. However, this data has no scientific basis, just conjecture.
The Bengal tiger has a wide range of habitats, mainly in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and China, and is active in alpine coniferous forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, swamp artemisia grasses, dry mountains on the Indian Peninsula, lush tropical rainforests and dry broad-leaved forests in northern India, and mangrove forests along the coast of the South Asian subcontinent. Animals such as musk, deer, antelope and wild boar that move in forest areas are the main targets of predation by Bengal tigers.
<h1>02 As the king of the hundred beasts, sharp claws and teeth, bite force of up to 500 kg, but also can bite the neck of the Indian bison</h1>
The Bengal tiger is the nominate subspecies of the tiger, also known as the Indian tiger, the Bhutanese tiger and the Royal Bengal tiger, which is second only to the Siberian tiger in size. The majestic Bengal tiger, fearsome and respectable, with its strong physique, sharp claws and teeth, makes it the top predator in nature, the deserved king of the hundred beasts.
As a solitary animal, the territory of the Bengal tiger ranges from 15-100 square kilometers, depending on the abundance of prey, the topography of the territory and other factors. Some places have high-density prey groups, and their territory is only 15 square kilometers. In general, tiger territories also overlap, and female tigers often live with their cubs, and they hunt together. In addition, when the Bengal tiger is in heat, the male and female tigers also live together.
The Bengal tiger has a large, rounded head, a short snout, a large body, and a uniform body. Male tigers are generally 250–310 cm long and weigh 180–260 kg, with the largest Bengal tigers probably weighing more than 300 kg and females 240–265 cm long and weighing 100–160 kg.
The Bengal tiger has yellow and black stripes all over its body, and its fur is soft, with brown and white as a base, with black stripes. In particular, the stripes on the forehead that resemble the "king shape" add a bit of domineering and mysterious to them.
The canine teeth and split teeth are extremely developed, with three tips for the upper split teeth and two tips for the lower split teeth. The upper canine teeth of male tigers are 58 mm long, the upper canine teeth of female tigers are 51 mm long, the lower canine teeth of male tigers are 45.mm long, and the lower canine teeth of female tigers are 42 mm long. The bite force of the Bengal tiger is very large, reaching 500 kg, which can easily kill prey and crush the neck of an Indian bison.
Bengal tigers generally hunt day and night, but they tend to hunt from dawn to sunset, and they like to catch large animals such as wild boar, deer, antelope, buffalo, bison, etc. Sometimes the prey is heavier than the Indian bison, but the tiger catches it correctly. If you eat about 20 kilograms of meat at a time, you can skip eating for several days after eating.
<h1>03 The Siberian tiger is the largest, the Sumatran tiger is the smallest, and the fiercest is the Bengal tiger</h1>
Of the six extant tiger subspecies, the Siberian tiger is the largest, the Sumatran tiger is the smallest, and the fiercest is the Bengal tiger. Logically, the stronger the Siberian tiger in general, the more ferocious its personality will be, but it gives the Bengal tiger the upper hand, why is this?
In fact, the reason why this happens is inseparable from the environment. As we all know, among all the tiger subspecies, the Bengal tiger has the most dangerous living environment. In such an environment, if the Bengal tiger's personality cannot become fierce with the sinister nature of the bad situation, then it is likely to be eliminated by nature.
As we all know, the living environment of Bengal tigers mostly belongs to the rainforest area, and although this environment is very suitable for the survival of Bengal tigers, it is also very suitable for the survival of other beasts of prey. Because everyone's prey is similar, they belong to the relationship of competitors, then conflict is inevitable.
Leopards can't beat tigers, in order to reduce future opponents, they try to kill tiger cubs, so after the Bengal tiger grows up, they hate leopards the most, and when they see them, they must have fierce conflicts, and they can't be fierce. It is worth mentioning that the jackal, although it is not inferior to the tiger, but once it encounters a large herd of jackals, it is not so easy to get out.
Of course, the Bengal tiger has to face far more predators than leopards and jackals, as well as elephants, rhinos, Indian bison, etc., which are also very fierce beasts, and the strength of the Bengal tiger is not completely sure to win them. Indian bison, in particular, is an important food source for Bengal tigers, but Indian bison can grow up to 800 kilograms and have a pair of horns on their heads, which is fatal to tigers and is often killed by bison.
<h1>04 Bengal tigers and Asian elephants generally coexist peacefully, but occasionally prey on juvenile elephants, indistinguishable from Asian lions</h1>
Can the Bengal Tigers beat the Siberian Tigers? Generally speaking, the Siberian tiger is the largest tiger, while the Bengal tiger is slightly smaller, but in recent years, many netizens have said that the size of the Bengal tiger has surpassed the Siberian tiger. In fact, this is because the Siberian tiger and the Bengal tiger are inherently very close in size, and they both qualify as the "first big cats".
However, although the Bengal tiger is inferior to the Siberian tiger in terms of size, its personality is definitely more ferocious than the Siberian tiger, and you can see it by looking at its appearance. The Bengal tiger has a look of non-anger and self-esteem, and the general beast will be afraid to see it. Siberian tigers and Bengal tigers are one south and one north, it is generally difficult to meet, and even if they do, the two will not duel.
Can Bengal tigers hunt adult Asian elephants? Adult Asian elephants are 2.5 times taller than tigers and weigh 20-30 times more than tigers, and in this comparison of body size, Bengal tigers are difficult to beat adult Asian elephants. Bengal tigers and Asian elephants can coexist peacefully when they meet, but tigers will sneak around baby elephants.
Although authoritative experts have asserted that tigers cannot kill adult elephants, there are many rumors in this regard. In recent years, two incidents of tigers killing adult elephants have been reported in Corbett National Park, and the first 28-year-old elephant in Kazranga National Park is suspected of being killed by a mother tiger with three sub-adult tigers.
Originating in Africa, lions entered Asia via North Africa, occupying southern Europe, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, eventually developing into the modern Asiatic lion. Tigers originated in East Asia and traveled south and southwest into Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Since they can meet, when there is a fight, is the Bengal tiger more powerful or the lion?
Judging by the weight of lions and tigers, it is almost the same. However, the Canine teeth of the Bengal tiger are longer than those of the lion, and the bite force of the tiger is very strong, while the bite force of the lion is much inferior.
The claws are the main offensive weapon of lion tigers, and the tiger's claws are larger and longer than the lion's. The only skill of the Asiatic lion is to lock the throat, and in addition to the trick of the Bengal tiger, there is also a trick to bite the spine, which can only be done with strong biting force, heavy is deadly, light is paralyzed.
In summary, whether in terms of body size, claws, teeth, bite force, offensive weapons lock throat, Asiatic lion is inferior to Bengal tiger, but when encountering lions, Bengal tigers can only consider themselves unlucky.
<h1>05 We have lost 95% of the world's Bengal tigers, and by 2070, tigers in the earth's largest habitat may disappear</h1>
Currently, the Bengal tiger is the most populous of all tiger subspecies. Over the past half-century, we have lost 95% of the world's Bengal tigers, leaving less than 4,000 living in nature.
First, Bengal tigers also face habitat loss and destruction of their common prey. Bengal tigers still face the threat of habitat fragmentation or loss caused by rapidly growing populations around their habitats and increased human-made impacts. As vegetation declines and human encroachment increases, the number of most herbivores eaten by this predator predator is decreasing.
Second, the interests of things and human beings often clash and bring conflicts. Bengal tigers are also seen as a threat to human herders and their livestock, and are hunted and killed. Bengal tigers also face other human threats, such as poachers and hunters, who kill them because of their precious furs.
However, these are not the biggest dangers, and the biggest threat to Bengal tigers is indeed a warming climate. Climate change and global warming threaten their natural habitat.
Sundarbans National Park, located in southern Bangladesh and eastern India, is the largest tiger habitat on Earth. Recently, scientists from Bangladesh and Australia published a paper in the journal Total Environmental Science, which relied on climate change simulation experiments and based on existing research to conclude that by 2070, Sundelbens' Bengal tiger may disappear.
In the eyes of scientists, the warming climate and the rise in sea levels caused by the warming climate. In fact, rising sea levels also affect the salinity of freshwater. When sea levels rise, the salt content in the freshwater adjacent to the ocean will also increase, and such "fake fresh water" will become unsuitable for tigers to drink and will also affect the survival of tiger prey.
As a result, scientists believe that the warming is almost fatal to the Bengal tigers that live in Sundarbans, enough to "destroy" all the Bengal tigers in Sundelbens decades later.
Xuelinggu Nature Lab/Production
References: Man and Nature Magazine, Friends of Science Magazine, Science Bulletin Magazine, Science Grand View Garden Magazine, Nature Magazine, Nature Magazine