ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[Greatearth]

Siberian tiger size

I remember reading post #1,563.
I guess there are maybe lost giant genes from tiger lived in Manchuria and other parts of Russia (Siberian tiger population was around 30-50 in 1950s in Russia as well). No animals can grow bigger than their average size if they eat small amount of foods. And I think their length and shoulder height are a little bit smaller than their past size, just weight is too light. I read that hunters were highly activated in Russian Far East in mid 1900 and devastated all of animals like deer. Tigers in Russia is living in tough areas for several decades. I don't know this is true, but I heard tiger frequently attacked dog during 1980 to 2000 due to low number of prey animals in their places from the Korean documentary.


For example,
She was one of the last wild tiger in Korea. I don't remember, but she was captured alive and she came to the South Korea's zoo like 20 years ago. A keeper said she was so skinny and weighed around 99 kg when she came to South Korea. She reached 145~160 kg after keeper feed her normally. The Korean tiger was known as smaller than tiger in Russia, but 150 kg is bigger or heavier than any wild female Russian tigers today.

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Now, moving to famous Sibyukgang, or known as Final 16 to others. He was already 230 kg when he was a 3 years old and defeated all of other male tiger like Hobbi and male lions like ID and Techno brothers (they were the king before him) and Tus. I think he reached 260~280 kg when he was adult. If you see his photos, Sibyukgang was also robust and muscular tiger. His younger brother is 214 cm in head and body and 230 kg.

*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

What is the reason of Siberian tigers are smaller than past? Because of low number of prey animals in their habitats.
No animals including prehistoric tigers, Smilodon populator, American lion, Machairodus kabir, Machairodus giganteus, Homotherium, and even animals like Short faced bear and mammoth would grow bigger and heavier than their average weight if they can't find foods in their habitat. Reply