There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
12-24-2021, 01:48 PM( This post was last modified: 03-26-2022, 05:28 PM by peter )
ON THE SIZE OF CAPTIVE AMUR TIGERS - VII
VII.1 - Introduction
This post has both tables (males and females) I referred to in my previous post. It also has a lot of additional information (abbrevations, notes, remarks and references). For this reason, I decided against supplementive remarks and comments.
VII.2 - Abbrevations
When reading the tables, you'll need this:
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.3 - Amur tigresses
Here's the table with females. You'll find the averages in this next paragraph (VII.4):
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.4 - Averages of Amur tigresses
Captive Amur tigresses (n=27) average 138,1 kg (almost 305 pounds). Although a bit shorter than the captive Amur tigresses in Hengdaohezi and the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park, they compare in most respects. You'll find more details in 'Remarks' (directly below the table). Finding information about tigresses, by the way, was more difficult than finding information about male Amur tigers:
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.5 - Male Amur tigers
The table has 85 entries. Deep black numbers mean decisions were taken (see 'Notes' and 'Remarks'):
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.6 - Averages of male Amur tigers
Captive male Amur tigers average 224,2 kg (almost 495 pounds), 205,7 cm (6.9) in HB and 303,1 cm (just over 9.11) in total length measured 'between pegs'. Although a bit heavier than the tigers from Hengdaohezi and the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park discussed in the previous posts, they compare in most respects.
The averages are more reliable than the averages for females, because of the sample size (referring to weight in particular):
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.7 - Notes and remarks
In this paragraph, you'll find a bit more about some of the tigers in the tables:
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.8 - Sources
In this long paragraph, you'll find the sources of the information used for the table:
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
VII.9 - Closing remarks
When going over the tables, you'll notice there are quite significant differences in size between Amur tigers in European, American, African (referring to South Africa), Chinese and Japanese zoos. As far as I can see, Amur tigers in European zoos are larger than elsewhere. The more east you go (referring to Europe) the larger the tigers, so it seems (watch the last word, as I'm not sure).
Here's a male from Hungary that wasn't measured and weighed when he was sedated. Watch the fore-arms:
*This image is copyright of its original author
I'm unable to tell you anything about the reasons. It could be a result of coincidence, but it's also possible there are specific reasons. Before the turn of the last century, Amur tigers in American zoos were as large as those elsewhere (see the list of references). After the turn of the century, however, the number of reports about small tigers increased. Tiger 'Pavel' isn't the only one well below 400 pounds in his prime. It seems to be a pattern, but I'm not sure. If there is a pattern, it doesn't hold for females. I don't have the time to produce a table with the average weight in different continents, but it could be one of you is interested.
Those who evaluated historic records of wild Amur tigers noticed a marked decrease in size after 1970. My feeling is it isn't very different in captive tigers, but I could be wrong.
Over the years, I talked to many people I considered as very experienced in the tiger department. They told me an average adult male Amur tiger in good health today is 240-260 kg in his best years. Male tigers ranging between 160-200 kg in their prime are uncommon. Same for males well exceeding 300 kg. My guess is the average I found wouldn't surprise them. Without the Americans, the average most probably is quite close to what they told me. They also thought Amur tigers used to be bigger in the recent past. One reason Amur tigers lost size over time, they said, was the extermination of Manchurian tigers after 1950 or 1960.