Tigers are the world's most charismatic animals. Supple and powerful, long, lean and intense, with expressive tails, changeable amber eyes and giant teddy bear-like paws, they fascinate even confirmed non-naturalists. But sadly tigers are critically endangered and the truth is that we do not know how many there are left.
Some suspect there could be as few as 5,000 wild tigers worldwide. The modern tiger evolved 2 million years ago in Asia, where it has acquired religious significance and supernatural potency. In fact, tigers are revered even in the Sundarbans where they claim several human victims a year.
However, only a tiny percentage of tigers ever kill humans, and the total number of their victims is very small - perhaps surprising given that people are constantly encroaching on their territory. Stephen Mills offers some intriguing ideas about tiger kills, querying whether the impact of humans could actually be changing the behaviour of tigers in the wild, and reveals how shrinking habitats are confining tigers, forcing them to live in unnaturally high densities in some areas, with surprising results.
Drawing on the latest research, together with his extensive experience of tigers in the field, Stephen deals with every aspect of tiger behaviour: from their social structures, breeding patterns and family life, to their eating habits and how they communicate and interact. He also discusses recent attempts to conserve tigers, offering a possible blueprint for the future, and provides up-to-date information on how and where to try and see tigers in the wild.
Beautifully illustrated with over 100 colour photos and maps, this book is engagingly written and pulls together all of the most current studies to create an authoritative portrait of this extraordinary species.
