THE SUMATRAN TIGER: The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a rare tiger subspecies that inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra. LOCATION: The rare animals are endemic to Sumatra, which is an island located in western Indonesia by the Malaysian Peninsula. They occupy a wide array of habitats, ranging from sea level in the coastal lowland forest of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park on the southeastern tip of Lampung Province to 3,200 m (10,500 ft) in mountain forests of Gunung Leuser National Park in Aceh Province. HABITAT: Sumatran tigers live solely on Sumatra, as their names convey. Their typical natural habitat includes montane forest, peat moss forest, swamp forest, lowland forest, tropical rainforest, evergreen forest and grasslands. Once in a while these tigers even travel to mountainous regions. Sumatran tigers often remain in spots that have ample dense underbrush, especially when they're near bodies of water. POPULATION: It was classified as critically endangered by IUCN in 2008 as the population was estimated at 441 to 679 individuals, with no subpopulation larger than 50 individuals and a declining trend. EATING HABITS: The Sumatran tigers, because of their small size, predominantly prey on smaller animals like fish, monkeys, and fowls. Despite the fact they also feed on wild pig, spotted deer, Malayan Tapir and Orangutans. Though occasionally, Sumatran tigers are also known to kill mice or rats. CHARACTERISTICS: Sumatran tigers are reddish-brown or orange in color, and because of that are usually very adept at blending in with wooded scenery. In general, Sumatran tigers go through their lives alone, with the exception of mating rituals and mother- offspring care. The territorial and nocturnal creatures are carnivores. Sumatran tigers aren't picky eaters, and often scavenge anything that they encounter. These tigers are shed by a dark colored fur together with the stripes that run across its body. The weight of the males is 100 – 140 kilograms (220 – 310 lb), with the length measuring 220 – 225 cm (87 – 89 inches). Sumatran tiger males has 295 – 335 mm (11.6 – 13.2) long skull.