This Adult Tiger Makes Jumping Straight Up Into a Tree Look Effortless

Written by Emilio Brown
Updated: October 18, 2023
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Tigers are magnificent animals that are becoming rarer and rarer as their population dwindles. The tiger in the video is a Sumatran tiger found in the Flamingo Land Zoo in the UK.

Watch the Incredible Video Now

With most tigers living in captivity like this, it’s common to watch them do things like play, eat, and explore. As seen in the video, the tiger goes after some meat hanging from a branch and jumps effortlessly onto the tree to quickly grab it and leave. Sumatran tigers are one of the smaller species of tiger, but can still average a leap of about 25 feet. 

Zoos let people get an up-close view of animals, even dangerous apex predators like those in this video. Tigers have strong bodies with muscular front and back legs, so jumps like in this video are a piece of cake for them. A tiger’s hind legs are larger than the front, giving them great support and powerful leaps.

Adult tigers have such powerful jumps they can leap forward 16 to 20 feet. While tigers may be the largest big cat species, they aren’t the species that can jump the highest. Big cats like cougars are able to jump over 18 feet straight up, while tigers don’t jump up, they leap forward. 

Where are Tigers Found in the Wild?

Portrait of a Royal Bengal Tiger alert and Staring at the Camera. National Animal of Bangladesh

Currently, there are only about 8,000 to 10,000 tigers in the world.

©Thinker360/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Tigers were once abundant throughout Asia, but due to habitat destruction and poaching, their population has decreased by over 95%. Currently, there are only about 8,000 to 10,000 tigers in the world.

With around 3,200 tigers in the wild, the remaining 5,000 to 7,000 are in captivity. Close to 70% of wild tigers live in India alone, and around 5,000 captive tigers live in the United States. The remaining tigers in the wild are scattered in the following thirteen countries:

  • India 
  • China
  • Russia
  • Cambodia
  • Nepal
  • Bhutan
  • Bangladesh
  • Myanmar
  • Malaysia
  • Indonesia
  • Laos
  • Vietnam
  • Thailand

While tigers aren’t animals you would typically see in the wild, they live in a variety of habitats. They can be found in places like rainforests, savannahs, grasslands, and swamps. These big cats are only native to Asia but are found in zoos, rescues, and other facilities around the world. 

How Strong are Adult Tigers?

Tigers are the largest species of big cats in the world, so they are known for their strength. Throughout the world, there have been 9 species of tigers, but over the past century, three have become extinct. The current six species can be found in various sizes when fully grown, so their strength varies.

Let’s take a look at each tiger species and its average size and strength. 

SpeciesAverage WeightAverage Bite Force (PSI)Average Jump Height
Siberian Tiger350 – 650 lbs.1,050 PSI25 ft.
Bengal Tiger350 – 570 lbs.1,050 PSI33 ft.
Sumatran Tiger180 – 300 lbs.1,050 PSI25 ft.
Indochinese Tiger250 – 450 lbs.1,050 PSI20 ft.
Malayan Tiger50 – 250 lbs.1,050 PSI16 ft.
South China Tiger 220 – 400 lbs1,050 PSI20 ft.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Thorsten Spoerlein/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Spiders, snakes, and lizards are my favorite types of animals, and I enjoy keeping some species as pets. I love learning about the various wonders nature has to offer and have been a writer for 5 years. In my spare time, you can find me getting out into nature.

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