From Siberia, the Bengal tiger became native to Bengal's open jungles, humid evergreen forests and mango grove swamps. The largest of cats, it's a strong swimmer and seldom climbs trees. It has a black striped orange-like coat, white underbelly, and black outer ears with a white spot on each. Bengal tigers shrank from 40,000 to 2,000 in the 1900s. Poaching and unrestrained logging shrunk their habitat, decreased their preys, and threatens this solitary, regal animal.
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