how long tigers live quick facts
- Wild tigers usually live about 10 to 15 years.
- Tigers in zoos can live up to about 20 years.
- About half of all tiger cubs do not survive past two years old.
- Tiger cubs stay with their mother until they are about 18 months to 2 years old.
- About 5,574 tigers remain in the wild.
How long do tigers live?
In the wild, tigers usually live for about 10 to 15 years, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. A few live longer. WWF says wild tigers have been known to reach 20 years of age.
In zoos, where they are safe from danger and get food and medical care, tigers can live up to about 20 years.
Tigers are the largest cats in the world, bigger than a lion. But even these powerful animals face many dangers, especially when they are young.
| Where a tiger lives | Usual lifespan |
|---|---|
| In the wild | about 10 to 15 years |
| The oldest wild tigers | up to about 20 years |
| In zoos | up to about 20 years |
The dangerous early years
A tiger’s life is most dangerous when it is a cub. WWF says about half of all tiger cubs do not survive past the age of two.
Cubs can die from hunger if their mother cannot catch enough food, from cold or illness, or from being attacked by other animals, including male tigers.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance gives a similar warning. It says up to half of tiger cubs do not survive their first year, because of starvation, disease, accidents and injuries while hunting.
If a tiger survives its first two years and learns to hunt well, it has a much better chance of living a long life. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says tigers in its care have lived about 16 years on average.
Growing up
Cubs usually stop drinking their mother’s milk when they are about five or six months old. But they do not hunt on their own until they leave her.
A mother tiger usually has two to four cubs at a time, about every two years. If all the cubs in a litter die, she may have another litter within about five months.
The cubs stay with their mother while they learn to hunt, usually until they are about 18 months to 2 years old. By two to three years old, they are fully independent and go off to find their own territory.
Females become adults at about three or four years old, and males at about four or five.
Different kinds of tiger
Scientists used to count nine kinds of tiger, called subspecies, living in different parts of Asia. Three of those are now extinct, so the National Zoo says six remain.
Today, WWF and many scientists group all tigers into just two subspecies: the continental tiger, which lives on the Asian mainland, and the Sunda tiger, which lives on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance still lists six living kinds by their older names. They are the Amur or Siberian tiger, the Bengal or Indian tiger, the Indochinese tiger, the Malayan tiger, the Sumatran tiger and the South China tiger. Tigers measure about 1.5 to 2.9 m (4.8 to 9.5 feet) long, depending on where they live, and males are bigger than females.
You will still often hear tigers called by their older names, such as Bengal, Siberian or Sumatran tigers, depending on where they live.
Bengal tigers
Bengal tigers live mainly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. They are part of the continental group, and most of the world’s wild tigers are found in India.
Like other wild tigers, Bengal tigers usually live 10 to 15 years, and longer in zoos.
White tigers
White tigers are not a separate kind of tiger. They are tigers born with a rare colour, with white or cream fur and dark stripes. You can learn more in our White tiger facts.
Almost all white tigers alive today live in zoos, and many have health problems because they have been bred from close relatives.
Siberian or Amur tigers
The Amur tiger, also called the Siberian tiger, lives in the snowy forests of eastern Russia and north-east China. It is the biggest tiger. Males can weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg) and measure 10 feet (3 m) long.
There are only about 360 Amur tigers in the wild, according to the National Zoo, and they are listed as Endangered.
Sumatran tigers
The Sumatran tiger lives only on the island of Sumatra, in Indonesia. It is the smallest living tiger. Males weigh up to about 310 pounds (140 kg) and are about 8 feet (2.4 m) long.
There are only about 200 to 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. They are Critically Endangered.
Tigers we have lost
Sadly, some tigers are gone for ever. The Javan tiger lived on the Indonesian island of Java, and the Bali tiger lived on the small island of Bali. Both are now extinct.
So there is no way to measure how long Javan or Bali tigers live today. They are a reminder of what can happen when tigers lose their homes and are hunted.
How tigers live
Tigers are mostly solitary. Apart from mothers with their cubs, they live and hunt alone, each in its own territory.
They mark their territory with scent, droppings and scratch marks on trees, and they call to warn other tigers away.
Tigers hunt mainly large animals such as deer and wild boar. They rely on sight and sound, rather than smell, and they stalk their prey before pouncing. A tiger can eat more than 80 pounds (36 kg) of meat at one time.
Every tiger’s stripes are different
No two tigers have the same stripes. Each one has its very own pattern, a bit like a fingerprint.
This helps scientists who study wild tigers. They set up hidden cameras in the forest and recognise each tiger from its stripes. By counting the tigers they see, and noticing when one goes missing, they can work out how long tigers are living in that place.
Tigers love water
Unlike many cats, tigers are excellent, powerful swimmers. On hot days they are often found relaxing in ponds, streams and rivers.
They also wait in the water to ambush animals that come to drink. Staying cool helps a tiger save energy in the heat.
How often tigers eat
A tiger does not catch something every day, even though it is one of the most powerful hunters on Earth. It usually makes a kill only once or twice a week.
It prefers pigs and deer, but in some parts of Asia a tiger may bring down a rhino or an elephant calf. After a big meal it can go several days without eating again.
Hunting is dangerous work. Injuries from hunting are one of the reasons some tigers, especially young ones, do not live long.
What shortens a tiger’s life?
In the wild, tigers face many threats that can cut their lives short.
Poaching: tigers are killed illegally for their skins and for their bones and body parts, which are used in some traditional medicines.
Conflict with people: when tigers kill farm animals, or sometimes people, they may be killed in return.
Losing their homes: forests are cut down and broken up, leaving tigers with less space and less prey. Tigers now live in only about 7% of the land where they once roamed.
Good news for tigers
After a century of decline, the number of wild tigers is starting to rise. WWF says there are now about 5,574 tigers in the wild, according to the Global Tiger Forum.
Tiger numbers are stable or growing in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia and China. In Nepal, the number of wild tigers has more than tripled. But in much of South-East Asia, tigers are still in crisis.
Protecting forests, stopping poaching and helping people live safely alongside tigers all give tigers a better chance of living long lives in the wild.
Three things people get wrong
Tigers do not all live the same length of time. Wild tigers usually live 10 to 15 years, but many cubs die young, and zoo tigers can live to about 20.
White tigers are not a separate kind of tiger. They are tigers with a rare colouring.
Javan and Bali tigers are not still alive. Both are extinct.
Did you know? The number of wild tigers in Nepal has more than tripled, thanks to conservation work.
Try it
Draw a timeline of a tiger’s life, from birth to about 15 years. Mark when cubs open their eyes, when they leave their mother at about two, and when they become adults.
Knowledge check
How long do tigers usually live in the wild?
Show answer
About 10 to 15 years.
What is the most dangerous time in a tiger’s life?
Show answer
When it is a cub; about half of cubs die before they are two.
Frequently asked questions
How long do tigers live in the wild?
Tigers usually live about 10 to 15 years in the wild, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. WWF says some wild tigers have reached 20 years.
How long do tigers live in zoos?
In zoos, where they get food, safety and medical care, tigers can live up to about 20 years.
Why do so many tiger cubs die?
About half of all tiger cubs do not survive past two years. They can die from hunger, illness, cold or attacks by other animals, including male tigers.
How long do tiger cubs stay with their mother?
Tiger cubs stay with their mother until they can hunt well, usually until they are about 18 months to 2 years old, and become fully independent at two to three.
Which is the biggest tiger?
The Amur, or Siberian, tiger is the biggest. Males can weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg). The Sumatran tiger is the smallest.
How many tigers are left in the wild?
About 5,574 tigers remain in the wild, according to the Global Tiger Forum. Numbers are rising in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia and China.
Sources
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo: tiger — lifespan in the wild and in zoos, subspecies, size, range, cubs, diet, threats and status
- WWF: tiger — population, subspecies, hunting, cubs, cub survival, maximum age in the wild, size and threats
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: tiger — cub survival, weaning, zoo lifespan, unique stripes, swimming and how often tigers eat
