Some of the most powerful and tantalizing animals in the world come from within the tiger family. Tigers are solitary creatures and different species can be found across the globe living in differing environments.
As each species of tiger differs in weight and height it can be hard to give one answer to the burning question of how much tigers weigh and how tall they can be but here we help you to understand the average weights and heights you can expect across the tiger species.
How Much A Tiger Weighs
The size of tigers varies between the huge number of species that currently roam around parts of the world. Many people assume that lions are the biggest cats in the cat kingdom but tigers are in fact considerably larger, in weight and height.
To get an understanding of what weight a tiger can be, let’s look at the largest and smallest tiger species.
The smallest tiger species is the Sumatran tiger. These petite felines are incredibly shy and so they are not often seen unless they are in captivity. They are native to the island of Sumatra and live in the rainforests there.
A male Sumatran tiger can weigh anywhere between 200 to 300 pounds, which is still very heavy. Females tend to be a similar weight and can be from between 180 to 300 pounds also.
The largest tiger species is the Siberian tiger, which is now known as the Amur tiger. These tigers can be found in a number of places around the world but are primarily inhabiting the Amur basin.
A male Siberian tiger can weigh up to 700 pounds and females can weigh up to 400 pounds and so it is easier to identify male and female Siberian tigers than to identify male and female Sumatran tigers.
Healthy tigers tend to have incredibly low body fat and so their weight is mostly made up of bone and sheer muscle which puts in context just how strong these animals are.
What Tigers Eat
Tigers have a similar diet to other big cat species. They tend to hunt native prey which means that the tiger’s diet is dependent on where they live.
Large animals that are slow-moving, such as buffalo, antelope, and boars make up a large portion of a tiger’s diet; however, they will eat and hunt whatever is available to survive as they are incredibly opportunistic.
Whenever a tiger spots vulnerable prey it will attack, even if it is a snake or crocodile.
Tigers that live near domestic settlements can on occasion hunt livestock from humans and this is why tiger populations are often culled in such areas.
This has had irreversible effects on the tiger population and many extinct or endangered species have fallen victim to such acts.
How Tall A Tiger Is
Similar to weight, the height of a tiger also depends on the species. Here we return to the smallest and largest tiger species to give context to the varying heights that can be found among the tiger family.
The smallest species, being the Sumatran tiger, can be anywhere up to 8 feet long. Siberian tigers, which are the largest species, can be between 10 to 12 feet long which is considerably taller.
These measurements include the tiger’s powerful tail, which in itself can have a length of 3 feet in the case of the Siberian tiger.
The biggest tiger recorded was a Siberian tiger called Jaipur. Jaipur was owned by Joan Byron Marasek, who was a trained professional animal trainer from America. Jaipur measured 10 feet and 11 inches and weighed a whopping 932 pounds.
How Long Tigers Live
There is a difference in the length of time that tigers live in the wild and in captivity.
In captivity, tigers tend to live a longer life but this life may not necessarily be a happy one depending on the environment they are held in, the level of care they receive, and the food they are fed.
They can live up to 20 years in captivity, which can include rescue centers, zoos, or in cages as pets.
For tigers to live a long life in captivity it is important that they have space to roam and get the necessary amount of food per day to keep thriving and growing.
As captive tigers do not need to hunt it is important that they have space to roam so that they can still maintain a level of fitness and some muscle.
As they are solitary creatures being kept with other tigers is not essential and should be monitored closely if tigers are kept in captivity together as they could turn on one another.
In the wild, there are a number of things that can affect how long a tiger lives. These factors include other wildlife in the area that may pose a threat to the tiger, food sources, and human activities such as logging, poaching, and more.
In isolated parts of the world that are home to tigers, they can live up to 15 years as both the animal and their habitat are left alone.
The first two years of life are spent by their mother’s side, learning how to hunt and socialize with other tigers is passed on during this time.
From the age of 3 to 5 tigers begin to reach their sexual maturity but female tigers only give birth every couple of years and there is a high infant mortality rate for tigers.
These reasons explain why the population of tigers continues to dwindle, it is impossible for the tiger species to keep up, especially alongside the challenges that threaten their existence.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this piece has given you insight into how much a tiger can weigh and also what height these powerful creatures can be.
Both species mentioned in this piece, the Sumatran tiger and Siberian tiger, are critically endangered and so it is important to educate ourselves about these incredible animals before it is too late.
Hi, my name is Joe Edwards and I am fascinated by the world of big cats. It all started when my family and I visited a safari park when I was six years old. I begged my parents to get me a stuffed lion as a memento, and later a book about big cats for Christmas.
Now, over 20 years later, I still can’t get enough of them!
