Brazil tends to be seen as a mysterious place for everyone that doesn’t live here. For me, as a Brazilian born and bred it’s funny to talk to people from different countries and listen to their crazy questions about my beloved country. The last one that got me thinking was: are there tigers in Brazil?
As a general rule, there are no Tigers in Brazil. Wild Tigers can only be found in Asia, in the forests and savannas of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Myanmar. In Brazil, tigers are only found in some zoos, as the animal does not live in South American forests.
It doesn’t mean that Brazil has no big felines. For example, the Jaguar, the feline with the strongest bite in the animal kingdom is native to Brazil. Unfortunately, there are some sad stories in Brazil involving Tiger attacks in zoos. To understand everything about Tigers in Brazil, read on.
Tigers in Brazil: A Comprehensive Guide
The tiger is the largest of all felines (a respectable group that includes, among others, the cat, the jaguar, and the lion). Like the lion, the Tiger is an exuberant and super strong animal, with fantastic fur and a relentless hunter who rarely lets prey come out alive. In Brazil, this beautiful predator can be only found at zoos, circuses, or even as pets in some crazy (very crazy) families.
Tigers are mammals that belong to the feline family and have the scientific name Panthera tigris. They are dangerous animals, carnivorous and fast hunters, with very large jaws and very sharp teeth. Attacks on humans are very rare, but they happen when the animals feel threatened or when people invade their territories. They have daytime habits, hunting mainly in the afternoon and early evening.
Wild Tigers Can Be Only Found In Asia
Although many people think that all species of wild animals are native to Brazil, the Tiger (and many other animals) do not make Brazil their natural habitat.
There are no wild Tigers in Brazil. Found naturally only in parts of Russia, China, and South Asia, Tigers like to live in forests, grasslands, and swamps. Its scientific name is Panthera tigris. The animal is a relentless hunter that needs a balanced ecosystem to be able to live healthily.
There are five species of tigers. The best known is the Bengal tiger, found mainly in India. The rare Siberian tiger is larger and has a longer, softer coat. Both are the tigers most often seen in zoos. The geographic distribution of tigers ranges from Siberia to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. They are usually found in woods, bamboo, steppes, and humid forests. They are animals that need to be in nature, which is why it is so important to preserve them.
Male tigers can be over 1 meter tall and 3 meters long, including the tail. They usually weigh between 160 and 290 pounds. Their coat varies from light yellow on the belly to dark yellow or orange on the back. Dark stripes cover the head, body, and legs. There are also black rings on the tail. They are excellent jumpers, able to jump distances of six meters and reach five meters in height. Also, they are fast. They can reach the speed of 60 km/h in their running
Tigers In Brazil: Only in Zoos, Circus (or Crazy Families)
In Brazil, the population of Tigers is limited to animals found at zoos, circuses, and licensed breeders (believe me, there are stories of families raising 7 tigers as pets. Can you imagine a 200kg kitten lying on your lap?). There are five species of Tiger in total, but the most common to be found in Brazil in zoos and circuses (unfortunately it is still common) are the Bengal Tiger and the Siberian Tiger.
Tiger Attack In Brazilian Zoo
Although Tigers in Brazil are only found in zoos, which are controlled and safe environments, there is a sad episode in Brazilian history that was marked by the ignorance and neglect of an idiot father, to say the least.
On July 30, 2014, an 11-year-old boy was attacked by a tiger at the Cascavel Zoo, a city in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil. He was walking with his father and a 3-year-old brother when the attack took place.
The boy was in a prohibited area (between the guardrail and the cage rail) and fed the tiger and the lion and stroking them and even running from side to side putting his hand inside. of the protection grid. A couple who were at the scene found the scene unbelievable and decided to film the situation. The following TV report shows the images.
WARNING: Graphic Content. Viewer discretion is advised.
In the images, the boy takes food from his pocket and gives it to the animal. His arm goes all the way through the bars. At other times he runs from one side to the other. The tiger feels uncomfortable. After much provocation, the predictable thing happened: The Tiger attacked the boy, who had a complete laceration (torn out nerves) in his right arm, and had to be intubated while still on the spot. At the hospital, the boy had his right arm amputated.
The attack was marked in the country’s history and if it weren’t for the images and witnesses who witnessed the scene, maybe someone could even try to blame the animal. Fortunately, that’s not what happened. In 2018 the child’s father was sentenced to 3 years in prison for bodily injury and omission.
Despite the announced tragedy that changed the life of Vrajamany Fernandes da Rocha, the boy seems to have overcome the traumas of the past: today, at 18 years old, the boy is an award-winning para-athlete with a promising future and says that his overcoming story has helped other people with disabilities.
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