Can Tigers Swim?

We all know that cats hate water, but what about other felines? Are they all like their little cousin, or is there one that loves water?

As lovers of the biggest cat in the world, our black tiger eye team is delighted to be able to look into the subject of the tiger. Does this big wild cat with a striped coat love water?

However, before discovering this small case study, you must understand that the tiger is unfortunately in danger 🆘 because human activities are slowly causing the disappearance of the animal.

 The tiger is not an ordinary cat.

Although the cat 🐈 is part of the Felidae family, it is still very different from its cousins; each feline has its characteristics. Let's take the example of tigers; with this wild animal, water is not a problem, they are not only excellent swimmers, but they also like to spend time in water spots to refresh themselves, but also to hunt.

The majority of the world's tiger population lives primarily in India 🇮🇳since, during the summer, temperatures can rise to over 45 degrees; Bengal tigers and other species are wholly or partially submerged in water throughout this time of year.

However, heat is not the only reason these felines head for the water. Amur tigers from the Russian Far East 🇷🇺, better known as the Siberian tiger, have also been seen crossing the Amur River in Siberia, hence the origin of their nickname.

Water plays a vital role for the tiger.

Unlike most animals, the tiger likes water pleasantly; on the other hand, what he does not appreciate is to have the head or eyes wet, which does not prevent him from emerging entirely when he wants to catch a pear or a piece of meat 🍖 a behavior observed in zoos hosting these felines.

Water also plays a vital role in the feeding behavior of these animals; after the killing of one of its prey deer 🦌, cattle 🐃, wild pigs🐗, the tiger begins to devour it, even though the blood of the latter is still hot, which has the effect of increasing its body temperature by causing heartburn.

To relieve himself of these burns, the feline makes pauses lying in the water to cool his belly and drink by the same occasion.

That's why, after killing its prey, the fawn usually hangs out somewhere near a watering hole to enjoy its meal correctly.

This tabby feline is an excellent swimmer.

All the subspecies of tigers 🐅 are in the capacity to swim on very long distances, sometimes reaching 30 km. Moreover, certain rivers have strong currents, which does not prevent anything from crossing the fawn when it wishes to be of the other end of the bank; here is concrete proof that this striped feline is an excellent swimmer!

During the hunt, these large predators can even push their prey towards the water to use their swimming skills to capture and give death more quickly, and this without the game even having time to understand the ambush set up for it.

Tigers are territorial animals. Usually, they have a large territory of several square kilometers. The male travels his hunting area very regularly; during his patrol, he marks his part with his urine and long sharp claws to signal to other males that he is the master of the place.

To ensure that none of his fellow males have ventured into his territory, he takes watery shortcuts to reach the places where he wants during his patrol. Unfortunately, an encounter with one of them may trigger a bloody fight.

In India and Bangladesh, animal reporters have been able to film 🎥 tigers regularly swimming from island to island to expand their hunting space and their territory.

The striped fawn is an excellent fisherman.

The tiger is brilliant; thanks to its pronounced taste for water, it has improved and flesh out its hunting techniques in any circumstances to obtain prey.

Its predatory instinct always takes over when it lives in the wild, making it very efficient when it starts hunting and pursuing its future victim.

The feline is ready to do anything to get food; even if it is not designed for fishing, the tabby is an excellent fisherman!

For many land animals, catching a fish 🐟 in a river is not an easy task, even less when the animal in question weighs more than 300 kg of muscle mass, with huge legs.

Usually, felines stand above the water, not knowing how to catch a fish; they usually hope to get one by pawing randomly; needless to say, this is not a very successful technique!

However, some tigers 🐅 have developed a well-elaborated and very efficient hunting technique. A very particular way of fishing that the tigresses will teach it later to their offspring.

This is the case of Bloody Mary, a Siberian tigress, which could be observed by the famous writer Sooyong Park, known for his book "The Great Soul of Siberia" and his award-winning reportage, which is called "Siberian Tiger Quest."

In his book, 📖 he describes the tigress as a great mother and an excellent hunter, showing remarkable intelligence.

When this tigress was fishing, she had developed a very formidable technique, gently approaching the pond, until three of her paws were entirely in the water, then she would stop without moving a single ear.

Patient, she held this position for a very long time, until one of these Cyprinidae (freshwater fish family) started to come and eat the hairs on her paws, probably thinking that it must be algae.

It is at this very moment that she would administer a mighty paw strike to the fish 🐟 that was standing right in front of her, giving it death either directly or sometimes in two steps.

Once the prey is in her mouth, the female tiger takes her catch back to her hungry cubs.

Tigers are in the water from a young age.

From their youngest age, tiger cubs living in the wild are constantly in contact with water due to their natural habitat. They grow up for the most part in wetlands such as marshes or forests hosting several water points, ponds, rivers.

Like their mother, they lie down in the water to refresh themselves, where they spend most of their time, playing between brother and sister, splashing each other.

Indeed, the game is an effective way to increase and acquire their hunting skills.

However, they can play freely and without worrying about the world🌏, as the protective gaze of their mother constantly watches over them.

In time, the water will become familiar to them; they can then start learning to fish and move from one shore to another by swimming without any problems!

Conclusion

The tiger 🐅 is the largest of all felines; unlike his cousins, water is not a disturbing element in his eyes; quite the contrary, he readily adapts to his environment. Being an excellent swimmer, he has many less.

Share your love for this vast cat by offering beautiful tiger plush to your loved ones; this gift will please and give birth to a passion for the feline.

Thanks to this simple gesture, the message of awareness will be heard more in the future!