Sumatran Tiger

(Panthera tigris sumatrae)

Hamilton Zoo has two tigers, Jaka and Mencari, who are brother and sister

Live: Indonesian Island of Sumatra

Habitat: Mixed tropical forest and mangrove swamp

Diet: Antelope, wild pig, wild cattle and a wide range of smaller prey

Gestation: 103 days, average litter size 2-3 kittens

Longevity: 15 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity

Status: Endangered

General: The stripes on the tiger provide camouflage so that it can stalk or lie in ambush for its prey without being seen.

During the hot season tigers spend much of the day resting near streams and water pools, often lying or standing in water to keep cool.

Wild populations in Sumatra are protected and captive zoo populations are managed in an attempt to prevent this subspecies following the Bali and Javan tigers; these subspecies became extinct in the 1940s and 1980s respectively.

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies, the Siberian the largest. It is estimated there are around 400-500 Sumatran tigers surviving in the wild.