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Tiger Behavior

Tiger Subspecies

Subspecies Differences

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Threats

 Tiger Handbook

South China Tiger

South China tigerWhere Do They Live?
The South China tiger is found in central and eastern China. All other tigers are thought to have evolved from the South China tiger.

How Many Are There?
The South China tiger is the most endangered of all tiger subspecies. There are fewer than twenty South China tigers thought to still exist in the wild. No South China tiger has been seen in the wild in ten years. It is the rarest of the five living tiger subspecies, the most threatened, and the closest to extinction. Currently 48 South China tigers live in 19 zoos, all in China.

What Do They Look Like?
The South China tiger is one of the smallest tiger subspecies. Its short, broad stripes are spaced far apart compared to the Bengal and Siberian tigers.

How Big Are South China Tigers?
Male South China tigers are about 2.5 meters (8 feet) from head to tail.
Male South China tigers weigh about 150 kilograms (330 pounds).
Female South China tigers are smaller, about 2.3 meters (7 1/2 feet) long.
Female South China tigers weigh about110 kilograms (240 pounds).

Range of the South China Tiger
Range map

 

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