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Posts by Kate Boyce-Miles

Asian Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus). This species is native to China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea and Eastern Asian Russia. It is classed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Habitat includes Temperate forest (deciduous and coniferous), riparian woodland, subtropical/tropical moist lowland and montane forest; will also use gardens and parks. The diet consists of Invertebrates, fruit, berries and seeds; will also opportunistically scavenge human food (i.e. rubbish tips, houses etc.) This bird is usually encountered in small flocks, although groups of up to 30 birds have been seen. The breeding season is from May to July, and pairs are monogamous and remain with the same partner until one of the mates dies/disappears. This species breeds in small colonies (usually one nest per tree/bush) of 20-25 individuals. The nests are sited in trees/shrubs about 0.5 – 12 m off the ground; they are constructed by both sexes and are made up of twigs/sticks with an inner layer that consists of plant fibres, roots and mud, and is lined with fine roots and hair. Five to six (range two to nine) eggs are laid per clutch – the eggs are light green with spots/speckles. The female incubates the eggs for 15 days, and is fed by the male whilst she is incubating and brooding. The young fledge 17-18 days post hatching, and both parents continue to feed the fledglings for four to six weeks. Usually only one clutch is reared per year, however second broods are occasionally laid. The young reach sexual maturity at one year of age. The azure-winged magpie sometimes breeds cooperatively; the frequency of helpers per colony can range from 22-50 %. The helpers provide extra food for the nestlings, increase predator protection and remove waste from the nest

Asian Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus). This species is native to China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea and Eastern Asian Russia. It is classed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Habitat includes Temperate forest (deciduous and coniferous), riparian woodland, subtropical/tropical moist lowland and montane forest; will also use gardens and parks. The diet consists of Invertebrates, fruit, berries and seeds; will also opportunistically scavenge human food (i.e. rubbish tips, houses etc.) This bird is usually encountered in small flocks, although groups of up to 30 birds have been seen. The breeding season is from May to July, and pairs are monogamous and remain with the same partner until one of the mates dies/disappears. This species breeds in small colonies (usually one nest per tree/bush) of 20-25 individuals. The nests are sited in trees/shrubs about 0.5 – 12 m off the ground; they are constructed by both sexes and are made up of twigs/sticks with an inner layer that consists of plant fibres, roots and mud, and is lined with fine roots and hair. Five to six (range two to nine) eggs are laid per clutch – the eggs are light green with spots/speckles. The female incubates the eggs for 15 days, and is fed by the male whilst she is incubating and brooding. The young fledge 17-18 days post hatching, and both parents continue to feed the fledglings for four to six weeks. Usually only one clutch is reared per year, however second broods are occasionally laid. The young reach sexual maturity at one year of age. The azure-winged magpie sometimes breeds cooperatively; the frequency of helpers per colony can range from 22-50 %. The helpers provide extra food for the nestlings, increase predator protection and remove waste from the nest

#BirdOfTheDay @robcrank68.bsky.social #Blue Here is an archive #photo of an #azure #winged #magpie Please see ALT text for more information.

19 hours ago 19 1 0 0
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#BirdOfTheDay #OpenBeak #birding #photography
@kateboycemiles.bsky.social

Razorbill (Alca Torda), Isle of May

📷 © @gblee.bsky.social

4 days ago 26 5 1 0

Thank you, Rob. 🙂

1 week ago 1 0 0 0

Thank you Rob. 🙂

1 week ago 1 0 0 0

Thank you. 🙂

1 week ago 1 0 0 0
Male greenfinches fighting.

Male greenfinches fighting.

@robcrank68.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay #Feeders Here are two #greenfinches #fighting over #sunflower #hearts. This also fits the alt. theme of #Green. #birds #bird #photography #photo 🪶 #finches

1 week ago 28 2 1 0
This is a male redpoll (Acanthis flamea) that I have seen on the bird feeding station for a rare time in years ! I am overjoyed. :-) Their preferred habitat is moorland and woodland (I live close to it in Dartmoor National Park) and they will frequent gardens. It is the smallest of the finches in the UK. They are mainly seed eaters, preferring seeds from trees such as willows, alders, pines, spruces, birches (I saw one on Trendelbere Down in a birch tree) and birches. They will also eat other plant material such as wildflowers and grasses. In the summer their diet shifts to invertebrates, mainly insects and arachnids. They are described as an 'irruptive migrant,' meaning that they migrate unpredictably often due to food sources. On the IUCN Red List it is classed as Least Concern but with a decreasing population trend. It has an extremely large range and is native to Europe, Northern Asia, North America and Greenland. In the UK it is on the Red List due to rapid declines in the 20th Century.

This is a male redpoll (Acanthis flamea) that I have seen on the bird feeding station for a rare time in years ! I am overjoyed. :-) Their preferred habitat is moorland and woodland (I live close to it in Dartmoor National Park) and they will frequent gardens. It is the smallest of the finches in the UK. They are mainly seed eaters, preferring seeds from trees such as willows, alders, pines, spruces, birches (I saw one on Trendelbere Down in a birch tree) and birches. They will also eat other plant material such as wildflowers and grasses. In the summer their diet shifts to invertebrates, mainly insects and arachnids. They are described as an 'irruptive migrant,' meaning that they migrate unpredictably often due to food sources. On the IUCN Red List it is classed as Least Concern but with a decreasing population trend. It has an extremely large range and is native to Europe, Northern Asia, North America and Greenland. In the UK it is on the Red List due to rapid declines in the 20th Century.

@robcrank68.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay #Feeders Here is a beautiful #male #redpoll eating #sunflower #hearts on the #feeder. I do not see them that often. Please see ALT text for more info. on this species.

1 week ago 22 2 2 0

Thank you very much, Rob. 🙂

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0

Thank you. 🙂

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0
Dao the Sumatran tiger.

Dao the Sumatran tiger.

Dao the #Sumatran #tiger sharpening his claws and showing his powerful muscles. #Caturday #CatsOfBlueSky #PaigntonZoo #Devon #cats #cat #bigcats #bigcat #photography

2 weeks ago 13 0 0 0
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I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

#Caturday The incredible Dao the #Sumatran #tiger. #PaigntonZoo #Devon #cat #bigcat #photography Please see ALT text for scientific information on the Sumatran tiger.

2 weeks ago 9 0 0 0

Thank you, Alan. 🙂

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0
The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is classed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List with a stable population trend. It is native to Australia and Tasmania. It resembles an owl, but is not an owl. They are very camouflaged during the day. They are nocturnal. It has a varied habitat type that includes forest, grassland, shrubland, urban areas but not very dense forests or deserts. This species eats mainly invertebrates but also reptiles, small mammals, and birds. It nests if trees, in nests made up of vegetation such as sticks and can be further added with feather down, moss etc. Both sexes incubate the eggs and lay one to two over 30 days. They are part of the Family Podargidae which includes 15 species. They are relatively closely related to nightjars.

The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is classed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List with a stable population trend. It is native to Australia and Tasmania. It resembles an owl, but is not an owl. They are very camouflaged during the day. They are nocturnal. It has a varied habitat type that includes forest, grassland, shrubland, urban areas but not very dense forests or deserts. This species eats mainly invertebrates but also reptiles, small mammals, and birds. It nests if trees, in nests made up of vegetation such as sticks and can be further added with feather down, moss etc. Both sexes incubate the eggs and lay one to two over 30 days. They are part of the Family Podargidae which includes 15 species. They are relatively closely related to nightjars.

@alan678.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay #GreyDay This is a #tawny #frogmouth #bird which has quite a lot of #grey in its plumage and in the background. Please see ALT text for more information on this #species. #birds #bird #photography 🪶

2 weeks ago 44 3 3 0

Thank you.

2 weeks ago 0 0 0 0

Thank you. 🙂 I sincerely hope so too.

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0

Thank you Rob. 🙂

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0
The Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina) is Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend. It is solely located in the wild to Western Java, Indonesia. The main reason for decline is trapping for the songbird trade, as well as habitat loss due to agriculture, mining and logging. The species inhabits forest that is foothill/montane, from 500-2000 metres above sea level. Zoos and other reputable institutions are vital for the ex-situ conservation of Javan Green Magpies for breeding. There may be a minimum of only 50 mature individuals left in the wild, but perhaps up to 249. They consumes invertebrates, amphibians, small lizards, fruits and berries. The juveniles have blue feathers which turn green after their first moult. Breeding can take place year round, but usually in months with high rainfall such as October to April. They make a cup-like nest out of vegetation and lay one or two eggs.

The Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina) is Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend. It is solely located in the wild to Western Java, Indonesia. The main reason for decline is trapping for the songbird trade, as well as habitat loss due to agriculture, mining and logging. The species inhabits forest that is foothill/montane, from 500-2000 metres above sea level. Zoos and other reputable institutions are vital for the ex-situ conservation of Javan Green Magpies for breeding. There may be a minimum of only 50 mature individuals left in the wild, but perhaps up to 249. They consumes invertebrates, amphibians, small lizards, fruits and berries. The juveniles have blue feathers which turn green after their first moult. Breeding can take place year round, but usually in months with high rainfall such as October to April. They make a cup-like nest out of vegetation and lay one or two eggs.

@alan678.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay #Corvidae Here is an archive #photo of a captive #Javan #Green #Magpie. #bird #photography #photos 🪶 #Critically #Endangered Please see ALT text.

2 weeks ago 29 3 2 0
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Thank you very much, Rob. 😊

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0

Thank you very much. 🙂

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0
Jahzara the female cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) at Paignton Zoo, Devon, UK.

Jahzara the female cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) at Paignton Zoo, Devon, UK.

#Portrait of a #cheetah named Jahzara. She resides at #PaigntonZoo and I saw her today (9th March 2026). #photo #photograph #photography #Devon

2 weeks ago 6 0 0 0
Dao the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) relaxing on a platform at Paignton Zoo.

Dao the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) relaxing on a platform at Paignton Zoo.

Dao the #Sumatran #tiger relaxing. I love his beautiful face. 9th March 2026 #PaigntonZoo #Devon #tiger #cat #bigcat #photography

2 weeks ago 4 0 0 0

Thank you very much. 🙂

2 weeks ago 0 0 1 0
The Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria) is classed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The species is found in a variety of forests in mostly the humid lowlands, but can occur up to 600 metres above sea level. Its diet includes seeds, fruits and invertebrates. It is threatened severely by hunting for meat and its beautiful feathers, as well as habitat loss.

The Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria) is classed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The species is found in a variety of forests in mostly the humid lowlands, but can occur up to 600 metres above sea level. Its diet includes seeds, fruits and invertebrates. It is threatened severely by hunting for meat and its beautiful feathers, as well as habitat loss.

@robcrank68.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay #SideProfiles Here is a #Victoria #Crowned #Pigeon taken today 9th March 2026. #birds #bird #PaigntonZoo #Devon

2 weeks ago 26 4 3 0
Dao the Sumatran tiger vocalising (not aggressively as it appears). He was making a yowl/roar, not at me.

Dao the Sumatran tiger vocalising (not aggressively as it appears). He was making a yowl/roar, not at me.

Dao the #Sumatran #tiger continuing his vocalisations. #PaigntonZoo #Devon #tigers #cat #bigcat #photography #photos

2 weeks ago 10 0 0 0
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Dao the Sumatran tiger vocalising (not aggressively as it appears). He was making a yowl/roar, not at me.

Dao the Sumatran tiger vocalising (not aggressively as it appears). He was making a yowl/roar, not at me.

Dao the #Sumatran #tiger was not actually snarling here, but vocalising making a yowling sound almost roar. #Photography #photo #cats #bigcat

2 weeks ago 8 0 0 0
The Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is classed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but with a decreasing population trend. Its main habitat is shrubland, savannah and subtropical/tropical forest in a huge range of South America. It is the largest toucan and also has the largest bill relative to body size of any bird. The species is a frugivore and consumes mostly fruit such as figs but will also opportunistically take insects and more.

The Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is classed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but with a decreasing population trend. Its main habitat is shrubland, savannah and subtropical/tropical forest in a huge range of South America. It is the largest toucan and also has the largest bill relative to body size of any bird. The species is a frugivore and consumes mostly fruit such as figs but will also opportunistically take insects and more.

#BirdOfTheDay #SideProfiles #Toco #Toucan at #PaigntonZoo #Devon. #photography #birds #bird 🪶 #photo

2 weeks ago 24 0 1 0
Dao moving forward. I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

Dao moving forward. I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

Dao the magnificent, 9th March 2026. #Sumatran #tiger #PaigntonZoo #Devon #photography #photos #cats #cat #bigcat #male

2 weeks ago 7 0 0 0
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Dao looking alert. #Sumatran #tiger #PaigntonZoo #Devon #photography #zoophotography #MammalMonday #cats #bigcats #cat #felid #photo

2 weeks ago 6 0 0 0
I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

#MammalMonday Second portrait #photo of #Dao the #Sumatran #tiger taken today (09.03.2026). #tigers #cats #bigcats #Panthera #tigris #photography #photos #PaigntonZoo #Devon

2 weeks ago 10 0 0 0
I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

I have studied tigers extensively in captive environments whilst at University and at other times. I was moved to tears upon looking again this evening at these pictures I took of Dao just because of his sheer beauty. This incredible animal ( Panthera tigris spp. sumatrae) is Critically Endangered in wild, and the last remaining Island subspecies native to Sumatra. Lowland rainforest provides the most suitable landscape for Sumatran tigers as these elevations provide the greatest prey biomass (Ministry of Forestry 2007). Female Sumatran tigers weigh in the range of 75 -110 kg, and males 100 - 140 kg (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). A study by O’Brien et al (2003) conducted in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, found that tigers take a wide variety of prey, including wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestina), two species of mouse deer (Tragulus spp.), and less frequently hunt Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus) and argus pheasant (Argusianus argus). Tigers are capable of reproduction at three years of age (although the earliest recording is 21 months), with highest fecundity levels between ages 4 to 11. The inter-birth interval is approximately two years (Smith 1993), with usually three cubs per litter (mean of 2.98), but litter size can range up to five. Tigers, especially males do not attain maximum body size until they are five years old, and males usually take longer than females to acquire territories. The territories of breeding males usually overlap those of several females, with males competing for access to the females (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The Sumatran tiger is under severe pressure from continued illegal hunting and poaching, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey due to poaching of prey species, potential loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and infectious disease.

#MammalMonday The incredibly beautiful #male #Sumatran #tiger named #Dao at local #PaigntonZoo. This is the first time I have ever seen him. 09.03.2026. #Photos #photography #zoophotography #tigers #cats #bigcats

2 weeks ago 13 1 0 0