Two Different Tigers

Hi everyone! In honor of Lunar New Year's official arrival, I am continuing with a series of tiger related posts over the new week or so, since it is year of the tiger following the Chinese zodiac. If you would like to see the official Lunar New Year Post, click here. Today's post feature two of amigurumi tigers: the feline tiger and the marsupial thylacine (aka Tasmanian tiger). While I like to make because they are cute, I also like to use my amigurumi as a teaching tool about different animal species, including facts about their conservation status and how humans have impacted them over the centuries. I love tigers, and it is very sad that these majestic big cats have struggled so much because of habitat loss, hunting, and poaching. 

Below are eight general facts about each type of tiger. (Here's a bonus: Tiger and Thylacine both start with the letter "T").

Tiger facts:

• There were nine known subspecies of tiger. Three of the nine are now considered extinct: the Caspian tiger, the Balinese tiger, and the Javan tiger. The other remaining (but struggling) subspecies are the Bengal tiger, Siberian (Amur) tiger, Sumatran tiger, South China tiger, Malayan tiger, and Indochinese tiger.
• The largest tiger subspecies is the Siberian (Amur) tiger. The smallest tiger species is the Sumatran tiger.
• The Bengal tiger currently has the highest recorded population of the remaining subspecies, with some growth in recent years.
• No two tigers have the same stripe pattern, just like human fingerprints.
• Tigers are the largest living species of big cat, followed by the African lion. 
• Most tigers have the characteristic orange, black, and white coat coloring. However, there are a few rare coloring variations. Golden tigers are a lighter orange and white with dark orange stripes stripes, and white tigers are without any other color apart from their black stripes. These color variations are not a separate, rare subspecies are typically not found in the wild. The majority of golden and tiger instances are a result of captive inbreeding and genetic mutation. It is important to educate about the general public about this, so that more efforts are made to stop amateur and for-profit breeding programs, as it serves no purpose for the wild tiger populations. 
• Tigers have more genetic similarities with snow leopards than with other big cat species.
• Tigers are excellent swimmers and enjoy spending time in water.

Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) facts:

• While not technically a cat, the thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial with both feline and canine characteristics, as well as the defining pouch of marsupial mammals.
• Female thylacine's had rear facing pouches, unlike most marsupials which have front or upwards facing pouches.
• With a highly mobile jaw, the thylacine could open its mouth at a full 90° angle.
• The thylacine had a distinct walk, moving with slight hop/bounce.
• Thylacine's had between 15-20 horizontal black or dark brown stripes down their back and part of their tail. Their main fur coloring ranged from dusty brown to yellow-brown, with varying white patches on their face, chest, and underbelly.
• Thylacine were once found on both Tasmania and continental Australia. The species first died out on Australia partly due to competition from dingos (the Australian wild dog). The remaining Tasmanian population was declared extinct in 1936 after the last known thylacine died in captivity. Other thylacine of the small island had succumbed to habitat loss and human hunting, as they were deemed a threat and a monstrosity by colonists. 
• Some reports might suggest the thylacine have survived in small populations, as suspected sighting have continued to the present. 
• The thylacine was relative small; none ever reached the size of even the smallest feline tiger subspecies, the Sumatran tiger, and they were also smaller than dingos.

The little amigurumi tiger and thylacine continued their photoshoot together. Today is their first time together, exploring around some different plants; fun times! Their series of adventures will continue in later posts, so stay tuned! The tiger will also be apart of the upcoming "Caturday Chronicles", which will begin next week.

If you would like to purchase the pattern for either of the amigurumi you can do so below. They are also available on my Etsy, Ravelry, and LoveCrafts stores (links to these are available in the "shop" dropdown menu of my website). They are also available on Etsy as a pattern bundle, so you can have both at the same time! 

Tiger Amigurumi Pattern

Thylacine Amigurumi Pattern

Until next time! Remember the tigers!
​​Also, feel free to let me know in the comments what you think of these two.

Consider finding ways to help reputable animal conservation organizations this year! Help out the remaining tiger populations! Amigurumi are cute, but protecting real animals is even better.