The Habitat of a Tiger: Lairs

Lairs provide a shelter for tigers when they are not moving around or hunting. Artificial lairs have also been created in zoos for some endangered tigers that are moved into captivity as their natural habitats diminish through land and community development and deforestation in Asia.

  1. Locations

    • Tigers are native to Asia, and their lairs are generally found in tropical or grassland habitats. Dense forests are a conducive environment for tigers to live and make lairs because of the thick trees and brush, which provides prime territory for hunting and protection.

    Characteristics

    • Tigers find lairs in natural coverings such as rock formations and thick canopies of trees and leaves. Lairs just need to protect tigers from external elements when they are trying to raise their young and when they are not on the move to hunt.

    Occupancy

    • Tigers often live and travel alone, but they are known to live in areas and share lairs with other tigers when they are raising offspring. Cubs are usually born in lairs because it protects them from preying birds and animals when they are small and young.

    Endangerment

    • A decreasing amount of area is available for tigers to make lairs. Tigers have become endangered as a result of their diminishing habitat where they can live, hunt and raise offspring. This has resulted in the migratory movement of tigers as they search for places to find lairs.