Anyone who knows me even remotely knows that I am in love with tigers and I can never get enough of them. I cannot help but jump up and down when I think about the Denver Zoo's upcoming exhibit that is all about tigers. Animals are my way of dealing with life, but tigers are where it's really at. I know times have been stressful for everybody in this country lately so I decided it was time for a break from politics and realize how many things about tigers you didn't know.

1. Right behind ligers (a hybrid between a male lion and female tiger) tigers are the biggest 'big cats' out there.

As mentioned above, ligers are a hybrid breed between a male lion and a female tiger. This makes them extremely big. Right behind these creatures is none only but the tiger. I have to get really specific and specify that I mean SIBERIAN tigers are right behind ligers. This brings me to mu next point.

2. There are subspecies of tigers

Three of which are extinct. In total there are about 9 subspecies of tigers in the world but again, three are extinct. Most people think that there is only the Panthera tigris species when in reality there are more.

3. The tigers striped are equivalent to those of the human finger print

Never is one like the other, each set of stripes are unique to the cat. These stripes help them to blend in with the tall grasses and shadows.

4. In Chinese culture, every part of the tiger is sacred

The most sacred part is the bone, ever heard of tiger bone wine? In Chinese culture they drink this as an anti inflammatory medicine. Every other part of the tiger is used for something, whether it be that the pelt makes great decor or the teeth. Every part of the tiger is very sacred to China.

5. Tigers are great swimmers

The myth of cats hate water is actually not true. Tigers are living proof of this, they are great swimmers that just adore taking time to cool off in a pool of some sort.

6. Tigers depend heavily on the strength of their teeth

The strength of their teeth is what keeps them alive, they are able to fight off enemies, search for prey, kill prey and eat prey. Without their teeth they are very unlikely to survive due to starvation.

7. Tigers are very solitary

They are not like a wolf and stay in a pack, they stay by themselves except for when they are young and need teaching from their mother. Along with this they keep a very large territory based on how much prey they can get in the territory.

8. Tigers are not fast.

In the animal world you can either have strength or speed (I am confident that there are a lot of animals with both just bare with me.) Tigers chose to have strength and hence they cannot outrun other animals such as deer they rely heavily on surprise. They stay hidden until they can lunge out and attack the prey from either the side or the rear.

9. Mother tigers have litters of about 2-6 cubs

The cubs cannot eat by themselves for the first 18 months of their life and depend heavily on mom to feed them. The cubs will then stay with the mom for about two to three years. At this age they go off and find their own land.

10. There is such thing as a white Siberian tiger and they are absolutely gorgeous.

Now I am completely and utterly biased because the white tigers are my favorite tiger of all time. Just take a look at them and see for yourself why I think they are just absolutely stunning.

(picture credit: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/754384030035607554)