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The Tiger

Why a tiger?

Meet Morris the Cat
Siberian Tiger Facts
Selected Siberian Tiger Internet Links
Sounds
- Threat (WAVE, 77K)
- Prustin (WAVE, 41K)
- Moan (WAVE 18K)
- Growl(WAVE, 32K)

This is Morris the Cat, our stuffed Siberian Tiger. Morris is the official library mascot. He was donated to the college in the early 1980s. He had died of old age at the Utica Zoo. He was mounted by Clingerman Taxidermy of North Rose, NY. He is in the library because there is no room in the Wildlife Museum in Bicknell Hall. Original teeth are seldom used in mounted specimens so his own were replaced with plastic lion teeth. Come visit Morris. He hasn't eaten in quite awhile!!

Siberian Tiger Facts

Scientific name:Panthera tigris altaica
Size
- Head to Tail Length. 9-13'
- Shoulder Height. 3'
- Weight. males maximum 500 lbs; females 220-370 lbs (or more); largest living cat
Characteristics
- Adaptations/Colouration. 2 sides striping unalike
- Claws. long; retractable; don't hinder running
- Feet. heavily haired (aids silent stalking)
- Forefeet. 5 digits
- Fur. relatively long; thick (compared to other sub-species of tigers)
- Hair. long on male's cheeks
- Hindfeet. 4 digits
- Vocalization. roars
Behaviour
- Feeding. drags kill to hiding place; rests intermittently until carcass is devoured; finishes with great amount water
- Hunting. anything they can overpower; depends on sight & hearing more than smell; stalks slow & silent until close enough for final spring; male solitary (except when courting) ; moms with young
- Swims. swims well; loves water
- Territory. larg; 30 sq mi
Reproduction/Lifespan
- Lifespan. captivity maximum 15 yrs
- Sexual Maturity. 3-4 yrs
- Lieeding. late Jan-Apr
- Birth Interval. 2-4 yrs
- Gestation. 92-113 days
- Cubs. 2-4
- 3-4 lbs each
- kill independently 7 mos
Diet
- carnivore
- Wild. boar, deer, elk, fish, hare, & livestock
- Zoo. Carnivore Diet, bones, enrichment treats, & vitamins
Habitat/Range
- rocky mountain woodlands
- SE Russia, N. Korea, Manchuria (cold forested areas), & Siberia
- 3 reserves in Russia
Status
- US Endangered
- CITES App I
- SSP
- studbook participant
- Felid TAG
- due to habitat loss (major factor) & encroachment of civilization
- flesh & bones highly prized for food & medicinal purposes
- fewer than 400 Siberian Tigers exist in the wild
- Approximately 400 in Zoos around the world (genetically diverse and healthy captive population).