The Siberian tiger is the largest of all wild felids and an apex predator of the Russian Far East and Northeast China. This carnivore has adapted to the harsh, cold climate of the temperate taiga forests, where deep snow and low prey density define its existence. As an obligate carnivore, the tiger’s survival depends entirely on consuming meat to meet its rigorous nutritional requirements. It must hunt and consume large prey consistently throughout the year to maintain its body mass and insulate against the cold.
Primary Prey of the Siberian Tiger
The diet of the Siberian tiger is overwhelmingly dominated by large ungulates, which collectively make up approximately 85% to 90% of the total biomass it consumes. These large hoofed animals are the nutritional foundation that sustains the tiger in its frigid environment. The availability of these prey species directly influences the distribution and abundance of the tiger population itself.
Manchurian wapiti (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus), sometimes called Siberian elk, is a highly favored prey item due to its large size and substantial meat yield. The volume of meat provided by a single elk kill can sustain a tiger for an extended period, which is particularly beneficial when prey is scattered across vast territories. Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) also constitutes a significant portion of the tiger’s diet, sometimes accounting for up to 50% of the tiger’s normal food intake.
The Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) and Siberian Roe Deer (Capreolus pygargus) are also regularly hunted. These provide a more frequent food source, though less substantial than elk or boar. Sustaining a population of this feline requires a healthy and abundant ungulate base. The necessity of these large kills is especially pronounced during the frigid winter months, when the tiger’s energy expenditure is at its highest.
Secondary and Opportunistic Food Sources
When primary large ungulates are scarce, or when a tiger is young, old, or injured, the animal shifts its attention to smaller or more opportunistic food sources. This supplementary diet provides necessary calories and nutrients until a large kill can be secured. Medium-sized animals, such as musk deer and long-tailed goral, are occasionally taken, along with smaller prey like hares, rabbits, and pikas.
The tiger also consumes an array of other small mammals, including badgers and raccoon dogs, particularly during the summer months. In some areas, fish, such as salmon, have been recorded as part of the diet, showcasing the tiger’s adaptability to local resources.
Scavenging is a practical behavior for a large carnivore, and tigers will consume carrion. They sometimes take advantage of kills made by other predators, though they are known to chase wolves away from carcasses.
In rare instances, the Siberian tiger will prey upon other carnivores, including brown and Asiatic black bears. These encounters are risky, but a successful kill provides a substantial source of food; bears comprise roughly 3% of the tiger’s diet in the Russian Far East. The consumption of domestic livestock, such as cattle or dogs, occurs mainly when the tiger’s natural prey base is depleted or when the animal is forced to encroach on human settlements.
Hunting Techniques and Consumption Rates
The Siberian tiger is a solitary hunter that relies almost exclusively on stealth and the element of surprise to secure its meals. Its size and weight mean it cannot sustain high speeds for long distances, so its hunting strategy centers on a powerful ambush. The tiger stalks its prey silently, often at night when its excellent night vision provides a distinct advantage, before launching a short, explosive charge.
Once the tiger has closed the distance, it uses its strength to bring down the animal, targeting the throat or the nape of the neck with a powerful bite to cause immediate death. After a successful hunt, the tiger will drag the heavy carcass to a secluded area, such as dense brush or a cave, to consume the meat over several days without disturbance. This behavior is a protective measure to guard against scavengers or competing predators.
A tiger’s feeding pattern is characterized by a feast-or-famine cycle, driven by the size of the prey it manages to kill. An adult Siberian tiger is capable of consuming a large amount of meat in a single sitting, sometimes eating up to 90 to 100 pounds. To meet its daily caloric needs, which can be around 15 to 20 pounds of meat, a tiger typically needs to make a large kill only once every five to ten days. This efficiency is a necessity for survival in a habitat where prey density is low and hunting success rates are relatively modest.