Tigers

 


Tigers are the largest of the the big cat family and the largest species can reach over 3 metres (11 feet) in length! They come from South and East Asia. Tigers are one of only two species of big cat to swim, and they often spend their days in rivers and lakes in order to keep cool. They do most of their hunting at night. Tigers are one of the most endangered species on Earth and there are estimated to be less than 3500 left in the wild.

Did you know that 29th July is International Tiger Day? It's a perfect day to learn about these interesting creatures and enjoy some of our fun tiger resources.

Tiger theme

Fun Fact: Each tiger has their own unique pattern of stripes!

Year of the Tiger
The tiger is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, and 2022 is Year of the Tiger! If your child is born in the Year of the Tiger, you might want to check out our resources!
Year of the Tiger

Tiger Colouring Pages
Lots NEW! We have a collection of tiger colouring pages at Activity Village for you to print for...
Tiger Crafts
Lots NEW! Whether you are studying India, just interested in tigers, or looking at the animals of...
Tiger Printables
Lots NEW! We've got lots of great tiger printables for your projects at home or at school,...
Tiger puzzles
Lots NEW! Tackle a tiger word search, draw a tiger with our tiger grid copy or have a go at a tiger...
Tiger Worksheets
Lots NEW! Have some fun with our collection of tiger worksheets: the kids can study William Blake...

Tiger activities for children
The markings on a tiger are quite extraordinary if you look closely!


A Tiger Joke

What did the tiger say to her cubs when she taught them to hunt?
"Don't go over the road until you see a zebra crossing"!


Tigers In Literature

'The Tiger who came to Tea' is one of the biggest selling picture books of all time. But, helped by the Disney adaptation, the most famous tiger in children's books must be Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book.

The moonlight was blocked out of the mouth of the cave, for Shere Khan's great square head and shoulders were thrust into the entrance. Tabaqui, behind him, was squeaking: "My lord, my lord, it went in here!"

"Shere Khan does us great honour," said Father Wolf, but his eyes were very angry. "What does Shere Khan need?"

"My quarry. A man's cub went this way," said Shere Khan. "Its parents have run off. Give it to me."

Shere Khan had jumped at a woodcutter's campfire, as Father Wolf had said, and was furious from the pain of his burned feet. But Father Wolf knew that the mouth of the cave was too narrow for a tiger to come in by. Even where he was, Shere Khan's shoulders and forepaws were cramped for want of room, as a man's would be if he tried to fight in a barrel.

"The Wolves are a free people," said Father Wolf. "They take orders from the Head of the Pack, and not from any striped cattle-killer. The man's cub is ours - to kill if we choose."

"Ye choose and ye do not choose! What talk is this of choosing? By the bull that I killed, am I to stand nosing into your dog's den for my fair dues? It is I, Shere Khan, who speak!"

The tiger's roar filled the cave with thunder. Mother Wolf shook herself clear of the cubs and sprang forward, her eyes, like two green moons in the darkness, facing the blazing eyes of Shere Khan.

"And it is I, Raksha [The Demon], who answers. The man's cub is mine, Lungri - mine to me! He shall not be killed. He shall live to run with the Pack and to hunt with the Pack; and in the end, look you, hunter of little naked cubs - frog-eater - fish-killer - he shall hunt thee! Now get hence, or by the Sambhur that I killed (I eat no starved cattle), back thou goest to thy mother, burned beast of the jungle, lamer than ever thou camest into the world! Go!"

Father Wolf looked on amazed. He had almost forgotten the days when he won Mother Wolf in fair fight from five other wolves, when she ran in the Pack and was not called The Demon for compliment's sake. Shere Khan might have faced Father Wolf, but he could not stand up against Mother Wolf, for he knew that where he was she had all the advantage of the ground, and would fight to the death. So he backed out of the cave mouth growling, and when he was clear he shouted:

"Each dog barks in his own yard! We will see what the Pack will say to this fostering of man-cubs. The cub is mine, and to my teeth he will come in the end, O bush-tailed thieves!"


Tiger Books and Poetry

If you are looking to add to your tiger project with some reading or poetry, here are some suggestions to get you going.

Picture Books:
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
The Tiger Child: A Folk Tale from India by Joanna Troughton
Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too
Augustus and his Smile by Catherine Rayner  
Tiger on a Tree by Anushka Ravishankar
Gracie Grabbit and the Tiger by Helen Stephens
The Dancing Tiger by Malachy Doyle
Tigerella by Kit Wright

Chapter Books:
Tiger Wars by Steve Backshall
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon by Sally Gardner
Tiger, Tiger by Lynne Reid Banks

Poetry:
The Tyger by William Blake


Tiger face painting

Little girl in tiger costume


More Animals to Explore ...

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Wallabies

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