“O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches.” Psalm 104:24.
In last week’s issue we mentioned a similarity between tigers and house cats. But one difference is that while our pets don’t like getting even a paw in water, tigers love to play or just swim in it, sometimes swimming great distances.
Baby tigers are cute and interesting. Females usually have two to six cubs in a litter, and they are born blind and helpless. However, just like kittens, cubs don’t lose any time finding their mother’s milk, and they nurse until big enough to eat meat, which she teaches them to catch for themselves. The male can’t be bothered with them, so the mother cares for them for about two years, until they have learned how to be on their own.
Except for swimming, tigers will not mix with others and will fight any that come too near. When one has eaten its fill of a kill and there is some left over, it will not let others have it, but covers it with rocks or branches to hide it for later.
We mentioned the two largest tigers as the Bengal and the Siberian. Although the Bengal is the strongest, the Siberian is the most beautiful. Its golden brown body fur, with narrow black stripes, contrasts beautifully with the solid white fur on its face with stripes down the inside of its lower jaw and throat, as well as its front legs.
There are some exceptions to the usual orange and black tiger colors. The Bengals, for instance, sometimes have white fur all over, ringed with the usual black stripes. But they do not live separate from the others. Some of these are in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Although fierce hunters, tigers live peaceably with hippos, rhinos and elephants, because, in spite of sharp claws and strong teeth, they would be no match for those huge beasts. Instead, they just ignore one another. Tourists, wishing to get a picture of these beauties, ride on elephants -sometimes arranged in groups -and a native guide leads them. Strangely, the tigers don’t appear to mind this and at times seem proud to have their pictures taken.
Some might ask, “Why did the Creator make tigers so vicious?” Actually, God made them tame and gentle, but when sin came into the world a sad change came to many creatures. They will remain that way until God will make them peaceful again. When that time comes, all who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour will be in a more beautiful place heaven itself. Will you be there?
ML-11/22/1992