Make no mistake, this is the difference between male and female Sumatran tigers

JAKARTA – The differences between male and female Sumatran tigers are very obvious. Apart from body size, there are other characteristics that differentiate the genders of animals that are in the endangered category.

In the wild and in conservation, it is estimated that the population of Sumatran tigers is no more than 400 individuals. The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), as its name suggests, inhabits the island of Sumatra with black stripes. This feather motif is useful when ambushing prey in the jungle.

Sumatran tigers like areas with wet conditions, such as swamp areas and around rivers because tigers really like water to play in. Apart from that, forest borders and community cultivation areas are also preferred habitats. This area is usually inhabited by many types of animals that can be preyed upon, such as wild boar, antelope, deer and mouse deer.

The main distribution of Sumatran tigers is in northern Sumatra and in the mountainous areas of southwest Sumatra. The distribution of the Sumatran tiger population is in at least 18 conservation areas and other forest areas that have the status of protected forests and production forests, which are separate from each other.

Several Sumatran tiger conservation areas are Bukit Barisan Selatan NP, Way Kambas NP, Bukit Balai Rejang Selatan, Kerinci Seblat NP, Riau (Tesso Nilo Landscape – Bukit Tigapuluh), Senepis – Buluhala, Jambi (PT. Asiatic Persada), West Sumatra Andalas University , Batang Girls National Park and the Leuser Ecosystem.

Differences between Male and Female Sumatran Tigers

Of the 400 or so Sumatran tigers that are still alive, there are various genders, namely male and female. The physique of male and female Sumatran tigers is differentiated by their body size, where male tigers are larger and stockier, with a body length of 2.5 meters and a weight of up to 140 kg. This is different from females which measure 2 meters and weigh an average of 91 kg. Male Sumatran tigers also have different stripes compared to females, where males have thicker and denser stripes along with longer manes than females.

National Geographic Indonesia reported, based on the results of research with a non-profit agency called the Prusten Project, the gender of the Sumatran tiger can be identified from the sound of its roar.

“With our own ears, we can recognize the difference between the roar of one tiger and another. If the human ear can distinguish the type of roar, what can a computer program do?” said Courtney Dunn, founder of the Prusten Project.

They then created a program using recordings of tiger roars taken from zoos and captivity across the US. With this program, they can distinguish individual tigers by the length and frequency of their roars. It was revealed that female tigers have a higher roar frequency.

Tigers, especially tigresses, are territorial and mark their territory by spraying plants with their strong-smelling urine. A female tiger will do this when she is ready to mate to warn male tigers who may be trespassing on her territory. The cubs are usually born in remote areas in the middle of the female’s home range.

That’s the difference Sumatran tiger male and female. By getting to know more about the Sumatran tiger, it is hoped that conservation efforts will improve, thereby preventing this animal from becoming extinct.

MG/Maulana Kusumadewa Iskandar

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