The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species and an apex predator throughout its diverse Asian range. This immense feline is classified as an obligate hyper-carnivore, meaning its diet must consist of more than 70% meat to fulfill its specific nutritional needs. The tiger’s anatomy, including specialized teeth and a short digestive tract, is entirely adapted for processing animal protein and fats. This reliance on meat requires the tiger to consume nutrients like the amino acid taurine and specific forms of Vitamin A, which cannot be synthesized from plants.
The Core Diet: Large Ungulates
The bulk of a tiger’s diet consists of large, hoofed mammals, known as ungulates. Hunting large prey is an energetic necessity, as a single successful kill can sustain a tiger for several days to a week, which is more efficient than pursuing multiple small animals. Tigers generally target prey weighing 40 kilograms or more, with the average meal often exceeding 90 kilograms.
Across their range, frequently targeted animals include Sambar deer, Chital (Spotted deer), and various species of wild pig or boar. In some regions, tigers regularly take down larger wild cattle, such as the Gaur, which can weigh over a ton, and the Water Buffalo. The tiger typically hunts by stalking its victim, often approaching from the side or rear before launching a rapid, powerful ambush. The kill is usually secured with a throat-clamping bite on large animals to cause suffocation or a quick bite to the nape of the neck on smaller prey to sever the spinal cord.
A tiger must kill a large animal approximately once a week, equating to 50 to 60 major kills annually to meet its caloric demands. A mature male may consume 6.3 to 7.8 kilograms of meat daily, and a female raising cubs requires even more. After a successful hunt, the tiger drags the carcass into cover and may consume 18 to 40 kilograms of meat in a single sitting, often returning to the kill over several days until the usable flesh is eaten.
Opportunistic and Secondary Prey
While large ungulates form the foundation of their diet, tigers readily supplement their meals with smaller, more easily acquired prey when opportunities arise. These secondary food sources are important during periods of scarcity or for younger, less experienced hunters who cannot consistently secure large kills.
Tigers consume a wide variety of smaller prey, including monkeys, hares, porcupines, and rodents. They also occasionally eat reptiles like monitor lizards and juvenile crocodiles, along with birds and fish. These supplemental items provide a lower nutritional yield but help ensure survival during lean times. Tigers are also known to scavenge on carrion and may prey on smaller carnivores, such as foxes or sloth bears.
The encroachment of human settlements has led to an increase in livestock depredation, where domestic animals become an easy meal. Cattle, goats, and dogs may be taken, a behavior driven by accessibility rather than preference over wild prey. This consumption often occurs in areas where natural wild prey populations have been significantly reduced, creating conflict with local human communities.
Diet Variation Across Different Habitats
The specific menu of a tiger depends on its geographical location and the ecosystem in which it lives, leading to distinct dietary patterns among subspecies. The diversity of available prey determines which species are targeted most frequently, though reliance on large ungulates remains constant.
Siberian Tiger Diet
Siberian tigers inhabit the cold, low-density prey environments of the Russian Far East. Their diet primarily consists of animals adapted to that climate, such as Amur moose, Manchurian wapiti, and wild boar. Smaller animals like musk deer and Siberian roe deer are also included.
Sumatran Tiger Diet
The Sumatran tiger, the smallest subspecies, lives in the dense, tropical rainforests of the Indonesian island. Their menu reflects the island’s biodiversity, including tapirs, deer, and wild boar. They often target smaller, more agile prey due to the dense undergrowth.
Bengal Tiger Diet
The Bengal tiger spans the diverse landscapes of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In swampy and dense forest regions, they frequently prey on large water buffalo and Gaur. In other areas, Sambar and Chital deer may dominate their kills. These regional variations demonstrate the tiger’s adaptability, allowing it to thrive in habitats ranging from frozen mountain forests to humid tropical jungles.