Tigers are obligate carnivores, meaning their biology requires a diet consisting almost entirely of meat to obtain necessary nutrients. This dietary structure positions the tiger as an apex predator throughout its range, occupying the top of the food chain in diverse Asian ecosystems. To sustain their massive size and powerful musculature, these large felines have developed specialized hunting behaviors and consumption patterns.
Primary Prey and Opportunistic Eating
The foundation of a tiger’s diet consists primarily of large and medium-sized ungulates, which are hoofed mammals. These substantial prey items provide the necessary caloric and protein density required to fuel the cat’s high energy demands. Common targets include sambar deer, chital (spotted deer), gaur, and wild boar, alongside domestic livestock such as water buffalo and cattle. Tigers generally seek out animals weighing over 20 kilograms, as hunting smaller prey is less energy-efficient.
Tigers are also highly opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide variety of smaller vertebrates when larger ungulates are scarce. This secondary diet can include fish, various bird species, small reptiles, and primates like langurs. In unique habitats, such as the Sundarbans mangrove forests, tigers have been documented consuming crabs and other aquatic life.
Solitary Hunting Techniques
Tigers are solitary hunters who rely on stealth and power rather than speed or group coordination. They primarily use a “stalk and ambush” technique, patiently moving through dense cover to get close to their target. This approach minimizes the need for a long chase, which would quickly deplete the cat’s energy reserves. The tiger’s striped coat functions as camouflage, allowing it to blend into the shadows and tall grasses of its habitat.
The final attack is a powerful, explosive burst of speed that quickly throws the prey off balance. Once the tiger secures a hold, the kill is typically delivered through a specific bite to the neck or throat. A bite to the neck can sever the spinal cord, while a throat hold results in asphyxiation, quickly immobilizing the prey. The tiger’s hunting success rate is relatively low, with estimates suggesting only about one in every 10 to 20 attempts results in a successful kill.
Quantity and Frequency of Meals
The low success rate of hunting necessitates that a tiger’s caloric intake comes from large, infrequent meals. When a tiger successfully takes down a large animal, it is capable of consuming a significant amount of meat in a single sitting. An adult tiger can eat up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of meat, or more, to replenish its energy stores. This behavior allows the tiger to sustain itself during long periods between successful hunts.
Following a substantial meal, a tiger may fast for several days to digest its massive intake. To protect the food source from scavengers, the tiger often drags the carcass to a secure, secluded location, such as dense brush or near water. The tiger often covers the remaining carcass with grass, leaves, or soil, a caching behavior that permits it to return and feed on the kill over two or three days.
Geographic Differences in Tiger Diets
The exact composition of a tiger’s diet changes significantly depending on its geographic location and subspecies. Prey availability is the main determinant, leading to distinct dietary profiles across Asia. For instance, the Bengal tiger, which inhabits the tropical forests of India and Bangladesh, relies heavily on species like chital deer and water buffalo.
Conversely, the Siberian (Amur) tiger, which lives in the cold, snowy Russian Far East, pursues different prey adapted to its environment. This subspecies targets larger animals like wild boar, sika deer, and elk (wapiti). Siberian tigers have even been documented preying on black and brown bears, which provides the higher fat content necessary to maintain body temperature and energy in the northern climate. The lower density of prey in these colder regions also forces the Siberian tiger to maintain a much larger territory compared to its tropical counterparts.