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THE HANDBOOK^
Discover all things wild with our handbook series
 A LITTLE NOTE
Dear tiger lovers,
Welcome to the world of tigers. This handbook
is your go-to-guide to learn about this
magnificent animal. It is revered in our country
and plays a very important part in our culture.
Through the ages, we in India, have been living
with tigers and this healthy coexistence is one
of the reasons why we have the highest number
of wild tigers in the world. This publication
contains many interesting facts and activities
which helps you discover a connection with
tigers and further get inspired to protect them
and the forest where they live. Enjoy the safari!
Team WWF-India
CONTENTS TIGER RESUME
Tiger resume 01 Want to know all about the largest cat in the wild? Here it is!
Where can you hear the roar 02
Talk to a catspert 05
A tiger’s life 07
How are tigers counted 08
Fold to hold your tiger friend 09
Spot the difference 11
What puts tigers in danger 12
Help Anita the forester 13
Male Female
The tiger needs your help 14
Average: 120 kgs - 300 kgs Average: 90 kgs – 167 kgs
Your tiger tale 15
Average 8 ft – 10.9 ft Average: 7 ft – 8.5 ft
Tiger test 16
GIVEUP for the cub 17
(Depending on how much you weigh, a male tiger could weigh 5-10 times more than you!)

WHY DO TIGERS MATTER?

Source: WWF Educator’s Resource Guide (Tigers)

Tigers are famously known to be the kings of the forest. They are the top predator in the food chain
which keeps the population of herbivorous animals under control. This helps maintain the ecosystem
balance. Forests provide us with clean air, water and medicines. Tigers matter because when we
protect them, we save the entire forest and all the species that live in it.
Big eaters Food on a tiger’s plate Knights of the night
Tigers can eat about 40 kgs Sambar, Barasingha, Chital, Tigers see six times better in
of meat in one go Nilgai, Gaur, Wild Boar the night than we do

The lone ranger Mama tigers Tiny tigers

Tigers prefer roaming alone A tigeress usually gives birth Baby tigers are born
to two to three cubs at a blind and can see only
time, cares for them and after 6-14 days
teaches them to hunt

Water babies Many sounds Striped to perfection

Tigers love water and are Tigers roar, growl, Tiger stripes are as unique
Indian culture respects all animal & capable swimmers moan, chuff and snarl to as human fingerprints
plant life forms, especially the tiger. communicate
01
 WHERE CAN YOU HEAR THE ROAR? India has 70%
of the world’s
In our large, amazing country, you will find all kinds of places – mountains and foothills, rivers and
coasts, mangroves and grasslands. Isn’t it fascinating that across 19 different states in India, the tigers!
tiger – our beautiful national animal – is the queen/king of the forest!
Important areas of forests with large number of tigers are called Tiger Reserves.
Want to know where some of these tigers live in India? Check out the map on the right
and also mark how far they are from you!

The semi-arid region of

Source: Status of tigers, copredators & prey in India, 2014

Rajasthan, especially the

Ranthambore National Park
where Machli - a famous tigress
was known for her battle with

Source: Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India. Global Wild Tiger Status, April 2016
a crocodile.

The floodplains & north The Sundarbans mangroves of

eastern hills of Assam, West Bengal, It’s also a great
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram place for them to show off their
& parts of West Bengal swimming skills!
where tigers occur.
KEY
Mountains & Grasslands
The Terai region and foothills The forests of Central (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar)
in Uttarakhand are home to India in Madhya Pradesh, Semi-arid Region
tigers. In the plains at the Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & (Rajasthan)
base of the Himalayas in Uttar parts of Maharashtra where Floodplains & North Eastern Hills
Pradesh and Bihar, tigers thrive a lot of tigers are found. (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram &
in grasslands, and even use Tiger habitats are connected parts of West Bengal)
sugarcane fields as homes. by corridors. Mangroves
(West Bengal)
Forests of Central India
(Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
& parts of Maharashtra)
The Western Ghats of Goa,
The Eastern Ghats of Andhra Western Ghats
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala (Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala
& Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu where Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha & & Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu)
the habitat is relatively well parts of Maharashtra where few Eastern Ghats
connected. This helps the tigers tigers are found. (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha &
to move around easily. Map not to scale
parts of Maharashtra)
02 03
 TALK TO A CATSPERT The tigers’ range has reduced
Meraj Anwar, one of WWF’s tiger conservation experts, will answer your tiger questions!
by 95%, leaving populations
fragmented and isolated
Q3 What are ‘species’ and ‘subspecies’?
‘Species’ is a group of organisms that can
KEY

Source: IUCN 2014. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 5 October 2017
reproduce with one another in nature and
produce fertile offspring. A ‘subspecies’ is a Areas with confirmed
population within a species that grow to have tiger breeding activity
unique characteristics over many years. The within the last 10 years.
Bengal tiger is one subspecies of the tiger family
and the Amur tiger are another. No evidence of breeding
has been detected in
Q1 How many tigers are there in India Q4 Tell us your most fascinating tiger these areas since 2008.
and the world? experience!
According to the estimation done in India I once looked into a case where a tiger was
in 2014, the tiger population in the wild is reportedly charging upon passerby on a forest
anywhere between 1945-2491, with a mean of road leading to a small village in Uttarakhand.
2226. Globally, a study by WWF and Global While patrolling the area, I sighted two small
Tiger Forum found that the number of wild tiger cubs! Later, I found a carcass of a sambar
tigers in 2016 stood at 3890. Almost 100 years deer which was probably killed by the mother Five existing tiger subspecies:
ago, there were approximately 100,000 tigers. to feed the cubs. I deployed a camera trap there 1. Bengal Tiger
and in a couple of days found a picture and (Panthera tigris tigris)
Q2 What are the different subspecies of video clip of a tigress with four cubs. Perhaps Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
tigers and where are they found? the mother tiger was chasing people passing by 2. Malayan Tiger The tigers we’ve lost:
There are five tiger subspecies found in the wild just to protect her cubs. I then recommended (Panthera tigris jacksoni) 1. South China Tiger
today. There used to be nine but four have that people should not be allowed on that forest Thailand and peninsular Malaysia (Panthera tigris amoyensis)
gone extinct! Check out the map on the right road so that both the tiger family and human 3. Sumatran Tiger Extinct since the 2000s
for the historic and current range. beings can be safe. (Panthera tigris sumatrae) 2. Javan Tiger
Indonesian Island of Sumatra (Panthera tigris sondaica)
Q5 What are some of the things that WWF-India does to conserve tigers in the wild? 4.Indochinese Tiger Extinct since 1970s
(Panthera tigris corbetti) 3. Caspian Tiger
Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and (Panthera tigris virgata)
Tigers move from place Vietnam Extinct since 1970s
A to B through jungle 5. Amur or Siberian Tiger 4. Bali Tiger
We assist the forest passages called wildlife (Panthera tigris altaica) (Panthera tigris balica)
department to monitor corridors. We study Russian far east and parts of North-eastern China Extinct since 1937
tigers in their habitats how these can be made
and corridors. safer for tigers with
active participation of You can be our next catspert! Read all the information carefully and fill in the blanks to
local people. test your knowledge.

1. India’s forests are home to between ______ - ______ number of tigers.

2. There were ______ number of tiger subspecies in the world, but there are only ______ now.
We help manage human - tiger interaction and provide immediate
3. The kind of tiger found in India is called ______________________. It also has a scientific
financial help to animal owners, living around forests, when their animals
name, which is ______________________.
are sometimes attacked by straying tigers. We also support communities
4. ______________________ ,______________________, ______________________,
around forests by working with them on sustainable livelihood initiatives.
______________________ tiger subspecies have gone extinct!
5. The Amur or Siberian tiger is found in _____________________,_____________________.
04 05
 A TIGER'S LIFE HOW ARE TIGERS COUNTED?
A mama tiger usually gives birth to a litter of two-three cubs that she cares for until Before you start exploring the interesting
they are a year-and-a half old. These little cubs are born blind and don’t open their eyes for 6 ways in which tigers are counted, let’s try
-14 days! These cubs grow very quickly to become four times their size in the first month itself! She and figure out why tigers are counted.
teaches her babies skills like hunting, marking territory, cleaning themselves and where to find food Sit down with your friends and discuss why
and water. She trains them for two to three years, after which the cubs leave their mother and start you count certain things – like the teachers
living on their own! count the number of students in class! Once
you discuss this, jot down two reasons why you
think tigers may be counted:
1) _____________________________________
_______________________________________
2) _____________________________________
_______________________________________
Very simply the tigers are counted so that they
can be studied and conserved better. In this
way, their well-being can be ensured and we
can figure out how to protect them both in our
forests and in other habitats.
For this, wildlife biologists carry out very
interesting counting activities in areas where
tigers live. But a lot of times, they need to do
this without actually spotting tigers with their
eyes (tigers try and avoid us humans as much
as possible!).

Mama Tiger
Match the cool tools used while counting tigers on the left to its uses on the right:

1) To find pugmarks, hear roars, smell

a) Camera traps
tiger poop and urine, spot prey

Babies become independent adults, Two-three cubs are

hunting and living in their own territories born in one litter
2) To find our way around the forests and
b) Eyes, nose, ears
not get lost

3) To keep our camera traps safe from

c) Sickle
hunters and robbers

4) To click photos of tigers in their homes

d) Safety cases
when humans aren’t around

Mama and babies hunt together

Mama hunts food for babies
and thats how they learn
5) To make sure that there is smooth
e) GPS units
movement in the forest
Did you know?
The average lifespan of a tiger in the wild is 14-16 years!
06 07
 FOLD TO HOLD YOUR TIGER FRIEND Want a majestic friend just for yourself?
Follow these step-by-step instructions and make one. So grab a sheet and let the fun begin!

Source: Origami design by Joseph Wu / Diagram by Andrew Hudson

08 09
 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE WHAT PUTS TIGERS IN DANGER
Tigers need large forest areas to roam in
search of food. Healthy forests are required
for flourishing prey populations that tigers can
live on. However, habitat degradation is a
big threat for a thriving tiger population. This
means that the natural resources in the areas
that they live in are decreasing.
Tigers move from one forest to another in
search of food or water through passages that
connect them. But now a lot of these forests are
disconnected and make it difficult for tigers to
move easily between forests.
Even though tigers hold a crucial part in our
culture and we co-exist with them, tigers
sometimes enter into villages that surround their
homes. Some of these human-tiger interactions
end up being fatal for both the animal and the
people living in these villages.
Poaching is another big threat for tigers. Tigers
are often killed for their body parts because it
is believed that tiger parts can cure illnesses
and are therefore used in Chinese traditional
medicine. This is, however, not true and only
ends up in killing the animal.

Find all the things that put the tiger in danger in this word scramble.
(Hint: the clues are in the paragraphs above!)

H A R U P G E H B D C E B I F H B S
A B Y C O Z T V Q P L X T I N U N I
B L R P A L F N N O Q G T P N O Y T
I P O A C H I N G A U Z A I I N R J
T R T I H P L E N C P O Q T F L D F
A Z S Z R I P Z B H S T C O L E I E
T A I S N N B A Z W P A P A S Q S P
D C B T Y G L O S Z R D X H V A C N
E N Q I G G B V S E A Y F I O C O C
G A U E T E A E T D F N X D X R N I
R B B H T A L N I P J I X E Z I N A
A X G I Q K I N Q F N U T G I O E F
D V P Y T N V L Q D N I V U V N C C
A L T S Y A G H O K E A X V O S T V
T C L I W A T E C S A N L E X U E H
I B L P A X D L R S S G H L C N D L
Hints O O R D Q T X V O A Q T Y U P T J I
Tigers have unique stripe patterns: a lot like human fingerprints! N I H F A L U Z Y S A V E A G E F Q
Tigers have distinctive white spots at the back of their ears called ocelli.
The hind legs are longer than the front legs, which helps their jumping abilities. Z L K J H G F D S A S O I U T R E W
Tigers have big soft pads under their paws to help them move without noise.
10
 HELP ANITA THE FORESTER THE TIGER NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Anita is a Forester. Foresters are people who protect forests - and all the wildlife in it. They follow WWF-India works to protect tigers in the wild, and YOU can help protect them too!
a rigorous patrolling routine to monitor and study wildlife. At the same time they ensure that
poachers are kept at bay. Here is your chance to help Anita reach the tiger while learning
about her and her amazing colleagues!

1. Wakes up at 4 am
and reports on duty 2. Spots a pugmark
while patrolling

Be aware of poaching Be a responsible tourist

Never buy any products that come from tigers When you visit a Tiger Reserve or any other
4. Talks to or other wildlife. Examples of tiger products wildlife habitat, be patient, don’t litter and
villagers include tiger skins used to make coats and abide by all the rules that your guide tells you!
about tiger rugs, jewelry made from claws and teeth, tiger Remember – you are in the home of the queen/
sightings whiskers, tiger bone wine, tiger meat and any king of the jungle and it doesn’t have to show
3. Sets up medicine that contains tiger body parts. itself to you! Tiger reserves are also home to
camera trap other animals and plants.

5. Catches a
poacher

6. Recovers
a jawtrap

GIVEUP paper wastage Spread the word

Forests – which are home to the tiger- are at the
risk of being destroyed when they are cut down
for products such as tissue, toilet paper and
wooden items. Opt to buy 100% recycled or
8. Gets to the tiger 7. Finds tiger poop
FSC-certified paper and wood products.
You can talk to your parents and friends and
ask them to do the things on this list too!
Being a responsbile tourist, saying no to tiger
products and using recycled paper products
are simple for everyone.

Did you know?

There are many types of traps, like the jawtrap seen above. There are
PRO TIP: Look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo on paper items in your local
also snares to trap animals. Snares are typically made of a wire or cord
stores, this logo indicates that the paper you are using has been produced responsibly.
and can cause serious injury or death to the trapped animal.
12 13
 YOUR TIGER TALE! TAKE THE TIGER TEST
Have you seen a tiger in the wild? Do you want to? Do you absolutely love this big cat? Found this handbook useful? Take this final test and you can
Write your tiger tale here. be a catspert too! Good luck!

Q1. How many tigers are there in the wild across the world as of 2016?
a. 3890
b. 4890
c. 6890

To, Q2. How much meat can a tiger eat at a time?

a. 150 kgs
WWF-India b. 40 kgs
c. 80 kgs
172-B, Lodhi Estate,
Q3. Which of the following is usually not part of the tiger’s diet?
New Delhi - 110003 a. Sambar
b. Chital
c. Rhino

Q4. Which national park was home to Machli - a famous tigress

known for her iconic fight with a crocodile?
With love, a. Corbett National Park
b. Ranthambore National Park
c. Dudhwa National Park

Q5. What kind of tiger do you find in India?

a. Indo-chinese tiger
b. Bengal tiger
c. Sumatran tiger

Q6. Which of the following is a major threat to tigers today?

a. Poaching
b. Loss of habitat
c. Both

Q7. How many cubs does one female tiger usually give birth to in a year?
Some tiger tales from little tiger protectors across India a. 4-5
b. 1
c. 2-3
Pooja Sharma, 11 years, Ishaan Agarwal, 8 years,
Rajaji National Park New Delhi Q8) Which of the following tigers is extinct now?
a. Malayan tiger
“I haven’t seen a tiger yet but I really want to “I once saw a tiger in Satpuda and was amazed b. Bali tiger
see one! The most important thing I have learnt to learn that its roar can reach a 114 decibels c. Bengal tiger
about tigers in school is that we need to protect to someone standing a few feet away! It is a
our tigers because they are a key species in our large, majestic animal with stripes and I could Q9) When is International Tiger Day?
ecosystem. If tigers become extinct, the food not take my eyes off it! I also learnt that tigers a. 21 May
chain will tremble and collapse, which will be are being killed for their skin, and I promise to b. 29 July
terrible for our environment!” never buy a tiger product!” c. 20 August
14 15
 GIVEUP FOR THE CUB ANSWER KEY
The survival of the majestic tiger is impacted by human activities. To provide a safe world for our Pg 04 - Talk to a Catspert
striped friends, what are you willing to change? 1) 1945-2491
Cut out items that you want to GIVEUP from old newspapers and magazines to create 2) 9;5
a collage. Place this in a prominent space as a reminder of your GIVEUP Pledge. 3) Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris
4) South China Tiger/Bali Tiger/Javan Tiger/Caspian Tiger
5) Russia, North-eastern China

Pg 06 - How are tigers counted?

a) – 4
b) – 1
c) – 5
d) – 3
e) – 2
I PLEDGE... Pg 09 - Spot the difference in the stripes

Pg 10 - What puts our tigers in danger?

Pg 14 - Take the tiger test

Q1) a – 3890
Q2) b – 40 kgs
Q3) c – Rhino
Q4) b – Ranthambore National Park
Q5) b – Bengal Tiger
Q6) c – both
Q7) c – 2-3
Q8) b – Bali Tiger
Q9) b – 29 July
16
 The Tiger Handbook 2019
Copyright © WWF-India 2019

Published by WWF-India
Any reproduction in full or part of this publication must mention
the title and credit the mentioned publisher as the copyright owner.

Content & direction provided by

Dipankar Ghose, Indira Akoijam, Jennifer Philip, Himanshu Pandey, Pranav Chanchani,
Meraj Anwar, Nishant Andrews, Nitisha Mohapatra, Renjan Mathew Varghese, Radhika
Suri, Yash Magan Shethia

WWF-India, 172-B, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003 Editor Bani Bains
Tel: 011 4150 4814, Fax: 011 4150 4779 Designer Ananya Singh
www.wwfindia.org | support.wwfindia.org/tigers Cover Rohan Dahotre