what do bengal tigers eat
Photo by GUILLERMO OSSA

What Do Bengal Tigers Eat?

October 23, 2017
1 min read

Like other big cats, Bengal tigers are carnivores. They fancy eating ungulates such as sambar, barasingha, takin, water buffalo, gaur, chital, antelopes, pigs, and nilgai. Bengal tigers will also prey on large animals such as wild boar, hog deer, grey langur, and muntjac.

Bengal tigers take on smaller mammals if the larger prey is not abundant. They also consume porcupines, peafowls, and hares but these animals make up only a small portion of the tiger’s diet. Lately, they have started hunting domestic animals because humans have occupied much of the tiger’s habitat.

The most favorite prey animal of a Bengal tiger is gaur which forms almost 45% of the tiger’s diet. In the Nagarahole National Park, sambar deer makes up 29% of the overall diet.

While they do not form the essential part of the diet, Bengal tigers do occasionally take on other predators such as crocodiles, wolves, Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, leopards, dholes, and foxes. They also feed on young elephants and rhinoceroses.

References & Further Reading

Biswas, S.; Sankar, K. (2002). “Prey abundance and food habit of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India”. Journal of Zoology. 256 (3): 411–420.

Andheria, A. P.; Karanth, K. U.; Kumar, N. S. (2007). “Diet and prey profiles of three sympatric large carnivores in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, India“. Journal of Zoology. 273 (2): 169–175

I am a contributing author and co-founder of animalsanswers.com. Every now and then i find myself hooked to my laptop researching and trying to discover new species of animals.

Latest from Blog

Cane Rat (Thryonomyidae)

Cane rats are robust rodents with stocky bodies, small ears, and short tails; body covered with sharply pointed, but pliable, spiny hairs; broad, heavily built orange-colored chisel-shaped incisors, with the upper ones grooved longitudinally at the front. They will make habitats in grasslands and wooded savanna. What Do Cane Rats…

What Do Antbirds Eat?

Antbirds (Formicariidae) are small to medium-sized songbirds with short, rounded wings, a short or long tail, and a stout or slender bill slightly hooked at the tip, feed on insects on the ground or in trees or thickets; prey is usually gleaned from foliage, although some species also catch flying…

Where Do Mountain Beavers Live?

Mountain beavers do not hibernate and so are active throughout winter. They are primarily nocturnal but are frequently active for short periods during the day. Mountain Beaver Habitat Habitats used by mountain beavers vary, but are typically forests with dense patches of herbs and shrubs. This vegetation supplies not only…

What Do Pangolins Eat?

Pangolins love munching on bugs, especially ants and termites. They sniff out their insect feasts, and sometimes the big pangolins go for the larger bugs. What’s on the menu can change depending on what’s available or the time of year. What Do Pangolins Eat? Pangolins can be a bit choosy,…

Proper Nutrition for Pets

Pet care is a complicated topic, as it is challenging to come to a single opinion. However, most owners will agree that the choice of food has a substantial impact on the condition of cats and dogs. Since much depends on the correct determination of needs, it is worth paying…
");pageTracker._trackPageview();
Go toTop