Tigers are apex predators across their diverse Asian habitats. Their predatory nature is fundamental to their survival and helps maintain ecosystem balance. These powerful carnivores rely on strength, stealth, and adaptability to hunt.
Apex Predator Diet
Tigers primarily eat large to medium-sized ungulates. Their diet commonly includes various deer species, such as sambar, chital, barasingha, and muntjac. Wild boar, wild water buffalo, gaur (Indian bison), and nilgai also form a major part of their diet. To meet energetic demands, adult tigers may need to kill approximately 50 to 60 large prey animals annually. A Bengal tiger, for example, might require 5 to 7 kilograms of meat daily to maintain health and activity.
Hunting Strategies and Consumption
Tigers are solitary hunters, using ambush tactics. They use keen senses of sight and hearing to stalk animals, approaching stealthily before a powerful rush. For smaller prey, a tiger delivers a neck-breaking bite, while larger animals are subdued with a suffocating bite to the throat or muzzle. Once a kill is made, tigers drag the carcass to a secluded spot to feed, consuming large portions over several days. They may eat large amounts of meat in a single session, returning to the kill intermittently and sometimes covering the remains with leaves or dirt.
Water Intake and Hydration
Tigers need water for hydration and cooling, especially in warmer climates. They obtain water from various natural sources, including rivers, streams, ponds, and puddles. Tigers are strong swimmers and often spend time submerged in water bodies to regulate their body temperature during hot periods. This behavior not only helps them stay cool but also aids in hunting, as they may chase prey into water to gain an advantage.
Opportunistic Feeding and Dietary Flexibility
While large ungulates form the core of their diet, tigers are opportunistic feeders with flexible diets. When primary prey is scarce, they broaden their diet to include smaller animals such as monkeys, peafowl, fish, and reptiles. Tigers also consume porcupines and hares. On occasion, they may prey on other carnivores, including leopards or bears, and even resort to eating carrion if necessary. This adaptability, including preying on domestic livestock when natural prey is depleted, is important for their survival across diverse and changing environments.