WORLD TIGER DAY is on July 29 — a day to celebrate some of the world's most fascinating big cats and raise awareness about their urgent need for conservation.
At one point in time, the world had nine subspecies of tigers. But today, there are only six. While most tigers are genetically one species, there is one which evolved differently: Sumatran tigers.
The Sumatran (or Sunda) tiger is the smallest subspecies of tiger, with a distinctive mane and fur that is darker and has more closely aligned stripes. Their difference is likely due to their isolated island habitat, which forced Sumatran tigers to adapt to a life of limited prey. Sumatran tigers are also excellent hunters, running up to 40 miles an hour in short bursts!
