Bengal Tiger Habitat

A Bengal Tiger habitat is nowadays restricted to remote areas of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bhutan. The Bengal Tiger is a symbol of Bangladesh and a national animal of India. Formerly, Bengal Tigers inhabited vast territories throughout Asia, but excessive hunting, poaching and habitat destruction of the 19th-20th centuries were almost fatal for the population of these animals.

All tigers are pure carnivores. They need to hunt often to survive and bring up their young. Tigers specialize in large prey, such as deer, boar and cattle. They stalk the prey and attack it suddenly, because they are unable to chase the prey for a long time. Their striped coat is an adaptation for hunting in the shrub and in the tall grass. That’s why all tigers tend to live in areas rich in vegetation. Bengal Tigers are the least specialized among other tiger subspecies, because they thrive in a variety of habitats. Grasslands, rainforests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangrove swamps can be a Bengal Tiger habitat. 

The bulk of the Bengal Tiger habitat is situated in India and Bangladesh. According to recent research, there are about 1,500 Bengal Tigers in the wild. In 2005, there were up to 4,500 Bengal Tigers in the wild with more than 3,000 individuals living in India and Bangladesh. About 200 Bengal Tigers live in Nepal, Myanmar and other countries. Though these animals are protected by law in most parts of their habitat and there are several conservation programs in India and Bangladesh, the number of Bengal Tigers gradually diminishes.

The main threats to the wild Bengal Tiger population are poaching and habitat loss. The demand for tiger fur, teeth, bones and other body parts used in Asian medicine is very high, which makes both native and European hunters kill these animals. Another problem associated with Bengal Tigers is revenge killing. Urbanization causes humans to build their houses and farms close to jungles. Bengal Tigers are often tempted to attack domestic stock and then they fall a prey to farmers who gather in large groups to kill all tigers living nearby. A Bengal Tiger habitat may soon be destroyed and tigers will be preserved only in zoos.