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The Javan Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) once roamed the forests and mountains of theisland ofJava inSoutheast Asia. Last seen in 1976, these cats went extinct due to habitat loss, diseased prey species, and humans infringing on their natural habitat after civil unrest.
So why do tigers have stripes? :)
Also apparently so that males can more efficiently mate with a female. See, female habitats almost always overlap at least one male habitat. Her receptive period is short, but VERY obvious to the males. A male tiger will stalk the female, sometimes for several days. Judging by Sumatran motion-sensor camera captures in nature preserves, she seems to know he's stalking him, but if she catches sight of him (which would be easy if not for the stripes), she'll chase him off, and another suitor will likely be closeby.
Nature is brutal.
Solitary tiger vs. African elephant!
Boa constrictor vs. crocodile!
Swordfish vs. everything aquatic!
It's a veritable SPIKE TV show!
Hunting Big Game in the Wilds of Africa, Containing the Thrilling Adventures of the Famous Roosevelt Expedition. J. Martin Miller, 1909.
"Desperate encounter with ferocious beasts"
I have as much clue what's going on here as you do.
Clearly it involves beating leopards with rifle-butts in an African arena that has transplanted species in it.
Hunting Big Game in the Wilds of Africa. J. Martin Miller, 1909.
There were a few man-eating tigers within India (and still are), but the tale of the man-eating tigers got VERY blown out of proportion by the colonial British, as tales of adventures are wont to do.
Source unknown, late 1800s.
Felidae. From The New International Encyclopaedia, published by Julien Bien & Co. 1902.
