The Bengal tiger is a type of tiger known as the Panthera tigris tigris subspecies. It is one of the largest wild cats. It lives in areas of India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Southwestern China. In the past, it lived in the Indus Basin until the early 19th century. Scientists believe it has been in the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene, which was about 12,000 to 16,500 years ago. It is in danger because of poaching, loss of its natural habitat, and broken-up habitats.

As of 2022, the number of Bengal tigers was estimated to be 3,167–3,682 in India, 316–355 in Nepal, 131 in Bhutan, and around 125 in Bangladesh. The Bengal tiger is the national animal of India and Bangladesh.

Taxonomy

Carl Linnaeus first used the scientific name Felis tigris for the tiger in 1758. In 1929, Reginald Innes Pocock classified Felis tigris under the genus Panthera. The traditional type locality for the species is Bengal, and the subspecies Panthera tigris tigris is the nominate subspecies.

In 1999, scientists questioned whether several tiger subspecies in continental Asia were valid. Morphologically, tigers from different regions show little variation, and gene flow between populations in those areas was likely during the Pleistocene. Based on this, researchers suggested recognizing only two subspecies as valid: P. t. tigris in mainland Asia and P. t. sondaica in the Greater Sunda Islands and possibly Sundaland. The nominate subspecies P. t. tigris includes two clades: the northern clade, which includes Siberian and Caspian tiger populations, and the southern clade, which includes all other continental tiger populations. Since the 2017 revision of felid taxonomy, all extinct and living tiger populations in continental Asia have been grouped under P. t. tigris.

A genetic analysis of 32 tiger samples showed that Bengal tiger samples formed a different clade than Siberian tiger samples. The Bengal tiger is identified by three unique mitochondrial nucleotide sites and 12 distinct microsatellite alleles. Genetic variation in the Bengal tiger supports the idea that it arrived in India about 12,000 years ago. This is consistent with the lack of tiger fossils in the Indian subcontinent before the late Pleistocene and the absence of tigers in Sri Lanka, which became separated from the subcontinent due to rising sea levels in the early Holocene.

Characteristics

The Bengal tiger has a coat that is yellow to light orange, with stripes that are dark brown to black. The belly and inner parts of the legs are white, and the tail is orange with black rings. The white tiger is a rare genetic variation. It is sometimes seen in the wild in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, and especially in the former state of Rewa. However, it is not related to albinism. Only one true albino tiger has ever been confirmed, and there are no proven cases of black tigers, except for a possible specimen studied in Chittagong in 1846. Fourteen Bengal tiger skins in the Natural History Museum, London, have 21–29 stripes. Another rare variation is the golden tiger, which has pale golden fur with red-brown stripes. These variations are very uncommon in nature.

The largest tiger skull measured 351 mm (13.8 in) in males and 293 mm (11.5 in) in females. Tigers have very strong teeth, with canines measuring 7.5 to 10 cm (3.0 to 3.9 in) long, the longest among all cats.

The Bengal tiger is one of the largest wild cats. In the Panna Tiger Reserve, male Bengal tigers measure 183–211 cm (72–83 in) from head to body, with a tail about 85–110 cm (33–43 in) long. Female tigers measure 164–193 cm (65–76 in) from head to body. Total length ranges from 283 to 311 cm (111 to 122 in) for males and 255–285 cm (100–112 in) for females. Their shoulder height is typically 90–110 cm (35–43 in).

Subadult male tigers weigh 130–170 kg (290–370 lb) and grow to 200–260 kg (440–570 lb) as adults. Subadult females weigh 80–100 kg (180–220 lb) and reach 110–180 kg (240–400 lb) as adults. In central India, adult male tigers average 190 kg (420 lb), with lengths of 282 cm (111 in). Adult females average 132 kg (291 lb), with lengths of 254 cm (100 in). Some scientists say male tigers in the Terai region often weigh more than 227 kg (500 lb). In the 1970s, seven male tigers in Chitwan National Park averaged 235 kg (518 lb), while females averaged 140 kg (310 lb). In the 1980s, two male tigers in Chitwan weighed over 270 kg (600 lb), the largest recorded wild tigers.

The smallest Bengal tigers are found in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. Adult females there weigh 75–80 kg (165–176 lb). Three female tigers from this area averaged 76.7 kg (169 lb). These tigers are smaller than those in other regions, likely because of limited prey and competition in the mangrove habitat.

A large tiger called the "Leeds Tiger," displayed in Leeds City Museum, measured 371 cm (12 ft 2 in) in length when shot in 1860. Other tigers from the late 1800s reportedly measured over 370 cm (12 ft), but measurements varied due to inconsistent methods. The longest tiger skull measured 41.3 cm (16.25 in) "over the bone," found near Nagina in northern India.

In the early 1900s, a male tiger in central India measured 221 cm (87 in) between pegs, with a chest girth of 150 cm (59 in), a shoulder height of 109 cm (43 in), and a tail of 81 cm (32 in). It was estimated to weigh about 272 kg (600 lb). A male tiger in northern India in the 1930s weighed 259 kg (570 lb). A tiger in Nepal weighed 320 kg (710 lb) and measured 328 cm (10 ft 9 in). The heaviest wild tiger, possibly killed in 1967 near the Himalayas, measured 323 cm (127 in) between pegs and 338 cm (133 in) over curves. It weighed 388.7 kg (857 lb) after eating a buffalo calf. Without the calf, it likely weighed about 324.3 kg (715 lb). A tiger in India’s Central Provinces weighed 317 kg (699 lb) and measured 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in).

The Bengal tiger is similar in average weight to the Siberian tiger.

Distribution and habitat

Long ago, Bengal tigers lived in the Indus River valley until the early 1800s. They also lived in most of India, eastern Pakistan, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and southwestern China. Today, they live in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and southwestern China. Scientists believe Bengal tigers have lived in the Indian subcontinent for about 12,000 to 16,500 years. In 1982, a piece of a tiger’s bone was found in Sri Lanka and is thought to be about 16,500 years old. Tigers likely arrived in Sri Lanka during a time when sea levels were lower, before the last ice age. They probably arrived too late to live on Sri Lanka, which was once connected to India by land. A study using 134 tiger samples from around the world suggests that the northernmost area where Bengal tigers once lived was near the Chittagong Hills and Brahmaputra River basin, which borders the range of the Indochinese tiger. In India, Bengal tigers live in many types of forests, including tropical moist evergreen forests, tropical dry forests, mangroves, and grasslands. These grasslands once covered large areas along the Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains but are now mostly farmland or damaged. Some of the best grassland areas are in places like the Tiger Conservation Units (TCUs) Rajaji–Corbett–Pilibhit, Bardia–Banke, and the transboundary TCUs Chitwan–Parsa–Valmiki, Dudhwa–Kailali, and Shuklaphanta–Kishanpur. Tiger numbers in these areas are high because there is plenty of prey, like deer and wild cattle.

In Pakistan, Khairpur was the last place where tigers lived by the late 1800s. The last tigers there were shot in 1906 in Bahawalpur. In the 20th century, India counted tigers by looking at their footprints, called pug marks. This method was criticized for being unreliable. Now, scientists use camera traps to count tigers more accurately.

Good tiger habitats in subtropical and temperate forests include the TCUs Manas–Namdapha. TCUs in tropical dry forests include places like Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, and Kanha–Indravati corridor. TCUs in tropical moist deciduous forests are among the most productive tiger habitats and include Kaziranga–Meghalaya, Kanha–Pench, Simlipal, and Indravati Tiger Reserves. TCUs in tropical moist evergreen forests are less common and are mostly found in the Western Ghats, including Periyar, Kalakad-Mundathurai, Bandipur, and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.

In 2008, scientists used camera traps and GPS technology to count tigers, their predators, and prey. They estimated there were about 1,411 tigers in India, ranging from 1,165 to 1,657 adult and young tigers older than 1.5 years. Six major areas in India were studied:

• In the Sivaliks–Gangetic floodplain landscape, six tiger populations live in about 5,080 km² of forest, including Rajaji and Corbett National Parks.
• In the Central Indian highlands, 17 tiger populations live in about 48,610 km² of forest, including Kanha–Pench and Satpura–Melghat.
• In the Eastern Ghats, one tiger population lives in about 7,772 km² of forest, including Srivenkateshwara National Park.
• In the Western Ghats, seven tiger populations live in about 21,435 km² of forest, including Periyar and Bandipur.
• In the Brahmaputra flood plains and northeastern hills, tigers live in about 4,230 km² of fragmented forests.
• In the Sundarbans National Park, tigers live in about 1,586 km² of mangrove forest.

Tiger Conservation Units in northeastern India, like Manas–Namdapha, Orang–Laokhowa, and Kaziranga–Meghalaya, cover at least 14,500 km². Tigers are also found in Pakke Tiger Reserve and the Mishmi Hills, where they live as high as 3,630 meters. Ranthambore National Park has India’s westernmost tiger population. The Dangs’ Forest in Gujarat is a potential tiger habitat.

In May 2018, a tiger was seen in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve for the first time in eight years. In February 2019, a tiger was spotted in Gujarat’s Lunavada area but died later, likely from starvation. In May 2019, camera traps recorded tigers in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, the first sightings in Goa since 2013.

Tigers in the Sundarbans in India and Bangladesh are the only ones in the world that live in mangrove forests. In 2018, there were estimated to be 86–90 tigers in the Indian Sundarbans.

As of 2014, India’s tiger population was estimated to cover about 89,164 km² and include 2,226 adult and young tigers older than one year. About 585 tigers lived in the Western Ghats, where Radhanagari and Sahyadri Tiger Reserves were newly created. The largest group was in Corbett Tiger Reserve, with about 215 tigers. By 2018, the population had grown to 2,603–3,346 tigers. As of 2022

Ecology and behaviour

The main group of a tiger consists of a female and her young. Adult tigers gather only briefly when conditions are favorable, such as when food is plentiful. Otherwise, they live alone, hunting alone for prey like forest and grassland animals. Adult tigers, whether male or female, stay in specific areas where they find food, water, and shelter for themselves and their cubs. These areas also help them stay in contact with other tigers, especially those of the opposite sex. Tigers in the same area are aware of each other’s movements. In Chitwan National Park, young tigers without parents began leaving their birth areas as early as 19 months old. Of 14 young tigers studied, four females stayed near their mother’s area, while 10 males moved farther, traveling distances between 9.5 and 65.7 km (5.9 and 40.8 mi). None of the males crossed open farmland wider than 10 km (6.2 mi), but they moved through forest and river areas.

In Panna Tiger Reserve, a male tiger with a radio collar moved 1.7 to 10.5 km (1.1 to 6.5 mi) daily in winter and 1 to 13.9 km (0.62 to 8.64 mi) in summer. His home range was about 200 km (77 sq mi) in summer and 110 km (42 sq mi) in winter. Within his range were the smaller areas of two females, one with cubs and one young female. Their home ranges were 16 to 31 km (6.2 to 12.0 sq mi).

Male tigers usually have separate areas that do not overlap, even if they sometimes allow younger or temporary male tigers to stay briefly. A male tiger keeps a large area to include the ranges of several females so he can mate with them. Female tigers’ areas sometimes overlap with neighbors, but they have smaller, more private areas. The ranges of both males and females change over time. When one tiger moves, others may also shift. Animals move to better areas if they are already living there. New tigers only become residents when a previous resident leaves or dies. There are more places for female tigers than for male tigers.

Over seven years in Chitwan National Park, researchers found 6 to 9 breeding tigers, 2 to 16 non-breeding tigers, and 6 to 20 young tigers under one year old in a 100 km (39 sq mi) study area. One female left her territory to her daughter and took over another area by pushing out another female. A displaced female later returned to a new area after the resident there died. Of 11 female residents, 7 survived, 2 left after losing their territories, and 2 died. The loss of 2 male residents and their replacement by new males caused social problems for two years. Of 4 male residents, 1 remained, and 3 were driven out. Five litters of cubs were killed by other tigers, and two litters died because the cubs were too young to survive after their mothers died. One young tiger was found injured in a deer trap and likely died. Other young tigers survived to reach adulthood, with two becoming residents in the study area.

Bengal tigers eat meat and prefer large animals like gaur, sambar, chital, barasingha, water buffalo, nilgai, serow, and takin. Medium-sized prey includes wild boar, Indian hog deer, Indian muntjac, and northern plains gray langur. Small prey like porcupine, hare, and peafowl are less common. Because humans have moved into tiger areas, tigers sometimes hunt domestic animals.

Bengal tigers sometimes kill other predators, such as leopards, crocodiles, black bears, sloth bears, and dholes. They rarely attack adult elephants or rhinoceroses, but rare cases have been recorded. In 2007, tigers killed 20 rhinoceroses in Kaziranga National Park. In 2011 and 2014, tigers killed two adult elephants—one in Jim Corbett National Park and another in Kaziranga National Park. The second elephant was eaten by several tigers. Tigers in the Sundarbans have been found eating king cobras, Indian cobras, water monitors, rhesus macaques, fish, crabs, and rarely, fishing cats and turtles. One tiger in Chitwan National Park was reported to have killed three gharials.

Studies of tiger droppings in Nagarahole National Park showed that tigers prefer prey weighing more than 176 kg (388 lb). On average, tiger prey weighed 91.5 kg (202 lb). Common prey included chital, sambar, wild pigs, and gaur. Gaur remains were found in 44.8% of all samples, sambar in 28.6%, wild pigs in 14.3%, and chital in 10.4%. In Bandipur National Park, gaur and sambar made up 73% of tiger diets.

Tigers usually attack prey from the side or back, getting as close as possible and grabbing the throat to kill. They then drag the body to a hidden place, sometimes over hundreds of meters, to eat. Because of their hunting style and prey availability, tigers eat large amounts of meat at once, often 18–40 kg (40–88 lb). In Nepal, female tigers made about 40–50 kills a year and ate 5–6.3 kg (11–14 lb) of meat daily. Male tigers made similar kills and ate 6.3–7.8 kg (14–17 lb) daily.

If tigers are injured, old, or weak, or if their usual prey is scarce, they may attack humans and become man-eaters.

Tigers in India do not have set mating or birthing seasons. Most cubs are born in December and April, but young

Threats

None of the Tiger Conservation Landscapes in the Bengal tiger’s range is large enough to support a population of at least 250 tigers. Habitat loss and widespread poaching are major threats to the survival of the species.

The Forest Rights Act, passed by the Indian government in 2006, allows some of India’s poorest communities to live in and own forest land. This often leads to conflicts between people and wildlife, as well as challenges for forest staff who lack proper training or equipment. Past evidence shows that humans and tigers have struggled to live together in the same areas.

The biggest immediate threat to wild tiger populations is the illegal trade of poached tiger skins and body parts between India, Nepal, and China. Governments in these countries have not taken strong enough action to stop this trade, and wildlife crime has not been a high priority for years. Organized groups of poachers move to vulnerable areas, prepare tiger skins in the field, and sell them to dealers. These dealers send the skins to tanning centers in India, where buyers later smuggle them through complex networks to markets in China. Other causes of tiger loss include urbanization and revenge killings. Farmers sometimes kill tigers they believe are responsible for attacking their cattle, and the resulting body parts may enter the illegal trade. In Bangladesh, tigers are killed by poachers, local hunters, trappers, and villagers, each group having different reasons, such as profit, safety, or excitement, and each connected to the illegal trade of tiger parts.

The illegal demand for tiger bones and body parts in Traditional Chinese medicine has led to intense poaching pressure on tigers in the Indian subcontinent. For over 1,000 years, tiger bones have been used in traditional medicines to treat muscle weakness, rheumatism, and pain.

Between 1994 and 2009, the Wildlife Protection Society of India recorded 893 cases of tigers killed in India, though this number is much lower than the actual number of tigers killed during that time. In 2004, all tigers in India’s Sariska Tiger Reserve were killed by poachers. In 2007, police in Allahabad arrested people involved in a meeting of suspected poachers, traders, and couriers. One person arrested was a major buyer of tiger parts who sold them to Chinese buyers, using women from a nomadic tribe as couriers. In 2009, all 24 tigers in the Panna Tiger Reserve were killed due to heavy poaching. In November 2011, two tigers were found dead in Maharashtra: one was killed by a wire snare, another died from electrocution after chewing on an electrical cable, and a third tigress in Kanha Tiger Reserve was suspected of being poisoned. In 2021, Bangladeshi police arrested a poacher believed to have killed 70 Bengal tigers over 20 years.

Between January 2020 and June 2025, seizures of tiger parts in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh totaled 332 tigers, with 313 of those in India alone.

Tigers and humans have had many conflicts on the Indian subcontinent. In the early 19th century, tigers were so common that killing them was officially rewarded in some areas. After the 1950s, tigers were pushed into less suitable habitats as natural areas were converted to farmland. Tigers began attacking humans in areas near farms, likely following livestock that moved between plains and hills. These tigers were often old, young, or disabled, with injuries from gunshots or porcupine quills.

In the Sundarbans, 10 of 13 recorded man-eaters in the 1970s were male tigers. These tigers were divided into two groups: those that hunted humans intentionally and those that attacked humans only when encountered. In areas with opportunistic man-eaters, attacks on humans were most common during honey-gathering seasons. Tigers in the Sundarbans likely attacked humans who entered their territories to collect wood, honey, or fish, defending their land. Attacks may be more frequent in areas with many people but few wild prey for tigers.

In Nepal, man-eating tigers have been rare. In Chitwan National Park, no man-eating cases were recorded before 1980. After that, 13 people were killed and eaten in the park and nearby areas. Most attacks seemed linked to competition among male tigers. A survey of 499 local people in Chitwan found that lower-caste Hindus and those with less than eight years of education often had negative views of tigers, many of whom owned livestock and had heard of tiger attacks on people and animals.

In December 2012, a tiger was shot by the Kerala Forest Department on a coffee plantation near the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The hunt was ordered after protests erupted because the tiger had been taking livestock. A special task force, including trained elephants from Karnataka, was formed to capture the tiger.

Conservation efforts

An area of special interest is the "Terai Arc Landscape" in the Himalayan foothills of northern India and southern Nepal. This region includes 11 protected areas with dry forest foothills and tall-grass savannas that support tigers in a 49,000 square kilometers (19,000 square miles) landscape. The goal is to manage tigers as one group spread across different areas, allowing them to move between safe places to help keep their genes, numbers, and environment healthy. It also aims to include tiger and habitat protection in plans for rural development. In Nepal, a community-based tourism model has been created to share benefits with local people and help restore damaged forests. This approach has helped reduce poaching, improve habitats, and build local support for conservation.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) partnered with Leonardo DiCaprio to start a global campaign called "Save Tigers Now." The campaign aims to gain political, financial, and public support to double the number of wild tigers by 2022. The campaign began in 12 key tiger areas in May 2010.

Tigers in this region have been studied in several countries. They are listed as Endangered in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. In Bangladesh and China, they are listed as Critically Endangered.

In April 2023, India signed an agreement with Cambodia to help reintroduce tigers to the country. At least 90 acres (36 hectares) of the Cardamom Mountains in Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary could be used to house tigers brought from India. The last tiger in Cambodia was seen in 2007 by a camera trap. In 2016, the Cambodian government said the Indochinese tiger population was "functionally extinct."

In 1973, India launched Project Tiger to ensure a healthy tiger population and protect important natural areas. The project’s team saw tiger reserves as places where tigers could breed and then move to nearby forests. The areas chosen for reserves were selected to represent the variety of ecosystems where tigers live. By the late 1980s, the number of reserves grew from nine to 15, covering 24,700 square kilometers (9,500 square miles). By 1984, more than 1,100 tigers were estimated to live in these reserves.

At first, the project helped stop the decline in tiger numbers, but in recent years, the population has dropped again. India’s tiger population decreased from 3,642 in the 1990s to just over 1,400 between 2002 and 2008.

The Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 allows government agencies to take strict actions to protect Bengal tigers. Studies showed tiger numbers dropped by 61% in Madhya Pradesh, 57% in Maharashtra, and 40% in Rajasthan. The first tiger census in 1973 counted 1,827 tigers. Using that method, the government reported an increase to 3,700 tigers by 2002. However, more accurate methods, like camera traps, used in the 2007–2008 census showed the actual number was less than half of what was originally reported.

After learning that only 1,411 Bengal tigers remained in India, down from 3,600 in 2003, the government created eight new tiger reserves. To help protect tigers, the government pledged $153 million for Project Tiger, formed a Tiger Protection Force to stop poachers, and planned to move up to 200,000 villagers to reduce human-tiger conflicts. Scientists in India have suggested using technology for conservation. In 2022, Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary was declared the 54th tiger reserve.

In January 2008, India created an anti-poaching force with experts from police, forest officials, and environmental agencies. Ranthambore National Park is often cited as a success in fighting poaching.

Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh was planned to receive Asiatic lions from Gujarat. Since no lions have been moved, the area may instead be used as a sanctuary for tigers to help control leopards that threaten the prey of reintroduced cheetahs.

Bengal tigers have been bred in captivity since 1880 and have been crossed with tigers from other countries.

In July 1976, Billy Arjan Singh brought a tigress raised in a zoo in the United Kingdom to Dudhwa National Park with permission from India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In the 1990s, some tigers in this area were observed with features similar to Siberian tigers, such as large heads, pale fur, and wide stripes. Tests on tiger samples showed these tigers had genes from Bengal tigers. A study of 71 tigers in Indian zoos and museums found that two tigers had genes from both Bengal and Siberian tigers, but the small sample size made it hard to confirm if this was due to one tiger.

The first captive breeding of tigers in India happened at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. In 1997, the global captive population of Bengal tigers was listed as 210, all in Indian zoos except one female in North America. A complete record of Bengal tigers in captivity is needed to create a management plan for tigers in India.

WildTeam works with local communities and the Bangladesh Forest Department to reduce conflicts between humans and tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. For over 100 years, people, tigers, and livestock have been harmed in these conflicts. Recently, up to 50 people, 80 livestock, and 3 tigers have been killed each year. WildTeam now has a boat-based team that provides first aid, transport, and body retrieval for people killed by tigers. They also trained 49 volunteer village teams to rescue tigers that wander into villages and avoid killing them. These teams include over 350 volunteers who also help stop poaching and teach conservation. WildTeam also helps communities access government funds to compensate for losses from conflicts. To track progress, they collect and report data on human-tiger conflicts.

In May 2010, Banke National Park was created with an area of 550 square kilometers (210 square miles). The government aimed to double India’s tiger population by 2022 at the Global Tiger Summit in 2010. By 2022, the tiger population in the park reached 355, nearly tripling the 121 tigers counted in 2009.

In 2000, the Bengal tiger re-wilding project

In culture

The tiger appears on the Pashupati seal of the Indus Valley Civilization. The tiger is also a symbol on coins from the Chola dynasty. The presence of a tiger, a fish, and a bow on many coins suggests these coins were made by the Cholas. The fish and bow are symbols of the Pandya and Chera dynasties, respectively. Chola copper plate writings that show all three symbols together indicate the Cholas had political control over these other dynasties.

The tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and India. Banknotes in Bangladesh include images of a tiger. The political party Muslim League of Pakistan uses a tiger as its election symbol. Tipu Sultan, who ruled Mysore in late 18th-century India, greatly admired the tiger. A famous 18th-century mechanical toy, Tipu's Tiger, was made for him. The tiger was the official symbol of Tipu Sultan's dynasty. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a political cartoon in Punch magazine showed Indian rebels as a tiger attacking a victim.

• The main enemy in The Jungle Book and related stories, Shere Khan, is a Bengal tiger.
• The Man-Eaters of Kumaon is based on real stories of tigers and leopards that attacked people in the Kumaon region.
• In the fantasy novel Life of Pi and its 2012 film version, a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker is the main character.
• The Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is based on a true story of a tiger that escaped from Baghdad Zoo in 2003 and roamed the streets of Baghdad.
• The Lost Land of the Tiger is a BBC documentary about tigers in Bhutan.
• The 2014 Indian film Roar – Tigers of the Sundarbans is about a white Bengal tigress in the Sundarbans.

Notable Bengal tigers include the man-eating Tigers of Chowgarh, the Chuka man-eater, the Bachelor of Powalgarh, the Thak man-eater, the Tiger of Segur, the Tiger of Mundachipallam, and the Wily Tiger of Mundachipallam.