Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and are renowned for their power and strength.

The tiger is capable of killing animals over twice its size; it is one of nature’s most feared predators.

Unlike other cats, tigers are good swimmers and often cool off in lakes and streams during the heat of the day.

A Bengal tiger can eat 21kg of meat in a night and can kill the equivalent of 30 buffaloes a year.

Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories (up to 100sq km in size) to keep their rivals away.

Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male.

Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes).

Although tigers belong in the wild they are still used by travelling circuses in the UK.