Studying big cats is truly fascinating. Not only are they powerful, strong and beautiful to watch but each subspecies also has unique colouring, behaviours and lifestyles, all of which are a reflection of the environment in which they evolved. So with this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the differences between Sumatran tigers and Bengal tigers. 

Surviving Subspecies 

Like the Sumatran tiger, the Bengal tiger is one of six remaining tiger species. While there used to be nine, three of these have sadly become extinct. The tiger subspecies left are the Bengal, Indo-Chinese, South China, Amur (Siberian) and Sumatran, with these either being endangered or critically endangered. However, poaching of wild tigers has now been banned and with breeding programmes underway, tiger populations are increasing.
 

1. Appearance 

Thought to be the second largest subspecies of tiger, often matching the length and height of the mighty Amur tiger, Bengal tigers have a dominant presence. They live in India and are sometimes called Indian tigers. The average male stands up to a metre high and can reach up to three metres in length. They can weigh anywhere between 180-260kg. Females tend to be a lot lighter, weighing anywhere between 100-160kg, and reach up to 2.6 metres in length. 

As for colour, Bengal tigers have brown or black stripes across their orange or yellow fur. Their bellies and the inside of their limbs are white making them easy to recognise. 

In contrast, the Sumatran tiger is the smallest and darkest of all tiger subspecies, with males weighing in between 100-140kg and females between 35-50kg. Both males and females average between 2.2 and 2.5 metres in height. 

Sumatran tigers also look different to Bengal tigers. They have a distinctive orange coloured fur with dark black stripes which gradually fade into spots. Their back legs also feature black spots and solid black lines. 

All tigers have unique stripe patterns. They’re a bit like human fingerprints in that no two stripe patterns are the same and can be used to tell tigers apart - although to an untrained eye this is extremely hard. 
 

2. Habitat and Distribution

Bengal tigers prefer to live in humid forests including those in the tropics and subtropics. They can be found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Their habitat of choice is subtropical woods, grasslands and mangroves.

Sumatran tigers only live on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia’s Sunda archipelago. With their numbers declining rapidly, they’ve been forced to scatter across a wide range of habitats including coastal plains and highland woods that are largely inhabited. Most of them can be found in national parks including Kerinci Seblat National Park which is home to the largest sub population. 
 

3. Diet 

Bengals tigers are carnivores. Their prey includes water buffalo, wild boar, deer, porcupines, hares, leopards, wolves, crocodiles and peafowl amongst others. They have been known to attack rhinos and elephants as a pack. Sumatran tigers are also meat eaters, living off a diet of monkeys, birds, tapir, boar, deer, porcupines, fish and - when the need arises - farmers’ livestock.

If your children love big cars, don’t miss The Tiger Who Came To Tea. A great example of theatre for preschoolers, this show is packed with clumsy chaos and interactive moments that are guaranteed to keep your little ones entertained. Family fun things to do in London don’t get much better, so book your theatre family tickets today.