Most Bengal tigers live in India. The estimated wild population is approximately 3,159 - 4,715 tigers, with about 333 in captivity, primarily in zoos in India.

Male Bengal tigers average 9 feet from head to tail and weigh about 480 pounds. Females are about 8 feet in length and weigh approximately 300 pounds.

Although the wild Bengal tiger populations are considered more secure in India than other tiger subspecies found elsewhere in Asia, there exists the potential for rapid demise of wild populations through recently increased levels of poaching and poisoning.

White tigers are just white-colored Bengal tigers. Wild white tigers are very rare, and today they can only be seen in zoos.

Siberian Tigers inhabit eastern Russia, northwestern China, and North Korea. There are about 500 Siberian Tigers left in the wild today, and another 500 in captivity. All species of tigers are in danger of extinction.

Adult tigers establish territories where there is enough prey, cover and water to survive. Finding prey can be difficult in dense forests and grasslands, so hunting alone is more efficient than hunting in packs. Tigers prefer forests or areas with tall grasses. They hunt by stealth and do not like to stay in open, exposed country. Tigers also favor areas where water is readily available for not only drinking but for a cool bath.

Historically, there were eight subspecies of tigers: The Bengal Tiger, the Indochinese tiger, the South China tiger, the Amur or Siberian tiger, the Sumatran tiger, the Javan tiger, the Bali tiger, and the Caspian tiger. In the past century, the last three subspecies (Javan, Bali and Caspian) have become extinct.