All Animals

Sumatran Tiger

Panthera tigris sumatrae
Mammal

Encounter me

Step into the world of our Sumatran tigers and unlock the wonders of these extraordinary creatures

A Sumatran tiger relaxing in its enclosure at Hamilton Zoo

The Sumatran tiger is one the smallest tigers. The frequency of stripes is higher than in other subspecies. Male Sumatran tigers also have a prominent ruff. Tigers are strong swimmers, and often bathe in ponds, lakes, and rivers, thus keeping cool in the heat of the day.

They roar to signal their presence to other individuals over long distances and be heard up to 3km away. When tense, tigers will moan. For aggressive encounters, tigers growl, snarl, and hiss. Chuffing is heard in more friendly situations. Other vocalisations include grunts, woofs, and meows.

Tigers are solitary animals and interact with each other only when special conditions permit - such as plentiful supplies of food. The basic social unit of the tiger is composed of a female and her offspring. Adult tigers are territorial and maintain home ranges, but also maintain contact with other tigers, especially those of the opposite sex.

Quick facts

Distribution:

Sumatra

Habitat:

Rainforests, mangroves

Conservation Status:

Critically Endangered

Fun fact

Just like the human fingerprint, tiger stripes are unique to each individual tiger!