(Panthera tigris altaica)

The Amur tiger’s gigantic size, its aspect (a combination of enormous power and beauty), its present rarity in the wilds, and the surprising environment in which it lives, put it in a class by itself.

The survival of the giant of tigers, the Amur tiger, also known as the Siberian tiger, is almost a living anachronism which has amazingly survived to present time since the Quaternary period when herds of long tusked, wooly mammoths roamed the then tropical area of Northeast Asia.

Adapting itself marvelously well to the extreme weather conditions of today's Siberia (a region which, by the way, features some of the coldest spots on earth such as Verkhoyansk which has a record low of 93 degrees below zero, F., and Oymyakon with 98 degrees below zero, Panthera tigris altzica, though now in very small number, still rules limited sections of the majestic Russian forests. The size of the colossal cat has been a heated subject of discussion for many years. Baikov and Sisoyev, both specialists, claim weight records of 880 pounds for large adult males.

Based on examination of several skeletons of Smilodon, the famed and now extinct Saber Tooth Cat, there seems to be good evidence that the present day Siberian tiger may, in fact, have always been the biggest of the cats. Besides size alone, Panthera tigris altaica differs on several points from the other six generally recognized races of tigers. Most conspicuous is the bear-like fleece exhibited during the cold season that enables the animal to successfully winter the incredible Siberian cold. The enormous head, neck and forequarters, light background coloration, fewer black markings and a characteristic rigid pacing action are obvious tell-tales to the expert.

The actual range of the giant cat is now extremely reduced in size. Although still occurring in three separate but adjacent countries (North Korea, Red China and U. S. S. R.) its population everywhere is scattered in small, isolated pockets.