Ussuriysky tiger - northern beauty

The Ussuri tiger (also known as the Amur tiger) is recognized as one of the largest predators in the world. At the same time, it is considered the least aggressive towards humans, compared to other subspecies of such felines. It is this animal that is depicted on the coat of arms of Primorsky Krai. In ancient times, the peoples of the Far East even worshiped him. Ussurian tiger. A photo

Appearance and habitat

Ussuriysky tiger differs from other subspecies in paler colors. The tone of its color is ohristo- or reddish-red. The tiger's body is decorated with brown or black cross strips. In the summer, its color is brighter. But in winter the fur becomes longer and thicker. The weight of the male Ussuri tiger can exceed 300 kg. Females are slightly smaller. As a rule, they weigh about 130 kg. In this case, the length of the body of the Ussuri tiger varies between 1.6 m and 2.9 m, and the tail size is 1.1 m.

Ussuriysky tiger is the most northern subspecies among large cats. Its main habitat is the south of the Far East of Russia. At the moment Amur tigers can be found in the forest part of Primorsky Krai and the southern part of Khabarovsk. The main population of these animals lives on the territory of the mountain system Sikhote-Aline.

general information

The Ussuri tiger is known for its immense physical strength. In particular, it is able to drag a carcass of an adult horse more than 500 m. In addition, the Amur tiger can develop a speed of up to 80 km / h, moving on snow. In fact, in speed, he is second only to cheetah. It should be noted that low temperatures have almost no effect on the vital activity of this species. This he stands out among his other brethren.

The shelters of the Ussuri tiger include niches under fallen trees and rocky ledges. His favorite habitats are forests with high and steep cliffs and caves. Here the predator will always find food, and from high points can survey its possessions. By the way, each tiger has its own habitat, which regularly bypasses. In most cases, predators stick to the once-chosen route.

Ussurian tigers are single beasts and do not recognize life in the pack. The time of their activity falls on the evening, the first half of the night and the early morning. In the afternoon they tend to lie on the crest of a ridge or on a rock for a better view of their territory. It is known that cats do not like water. Tigers, on the contrary, can stay in it for hours and swim well. Under natural conditions, these animals live 10-15 years. There are almost no enemies in the Ussuri tiger, because only a very large bear can defeat such a strongman.

Already in the 30-ies of the last century, the Amur tiger was found only in the most inaccessible places of the Ussuri taiga. On the verge of extinction, it was due to mass shooting of adult individuals, catching young and reducing the number of wild cloven-hoofed animals. Negatively, its population was affected by low-snow winters. Thus, the Ussuri tiger is also included in the number of protected animals. The Red Book refers him to those rare animals that, under adverse factors, can quickly become a category of threatened species.