Volume 1, Issue 1

The
BengalTiger
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
4 Ex
BONUS
t r a P
this issu
a
!
ges
only!
e

introduction
A big Namaste to you! In this issue
of Glo Adventurer, you will learn about the
spectacular black and orange animal called the
Bengal tiger. A symbol of grace, beauty and
strength. Just what do you know about these
creatures? What might you like to learn?
The word tiger comes from the ancient Greek
word, “tigris”. It is thought that the word comes
from a Persian word that means “arrow”. This,
for the bursts of speed which the tiger can
display when chasing its prey.
 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
There are so many wonderful things to
discover! Did you know a tiger’s whiskers help
it navigate in the tall grass at night? They are
very sensitive to touch. Even their fur has
many sensory hairs and their paws leave a
scent behind as they walk due to scent glands
on their paws.
ra l h a b it at o f the Bengal
The na tu
e r is th e S u n d erbans Forest in
Tig
a te o f W e st -B engal, India.
the st
e n ce , th e n a m e Bengal Tiger.
H
Want to learn
more cool things
about the tiger?
Come along and join us as we search out the
Bengal tiger. Gather up your passport, camera,
a sun hat, sunglasses and sturdy boots (and of
course lots of munchies for the journey). Stay
alert at all times. There just may be a Bengal tiger
lurking on the next page!
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 
 The
Bengal The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) goes by several
names. It is also known as the Royal Bengal tiger and

Tiger
Indian Tiger. It is the second largest of the remaining
subspecies of tiger after the Siberian tiger. It is found
in the grasslands and rain forests of India, Nepal,
China, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Bengal
tigers make up about half of all remaining wild tigers.

When you think of a tiger, you probably see a

mammal with striped fur. The Bengal tiger’s fur is
usually reddish orange with black, gray or brown
stripes. Did you know that the stripes aren’t just in
their fur? The stripes are in their skin, too! Bengal
tigers also have what looks like a white bull’s eye
on the backs of their ears and their belly is a creamy
coloring. There is also a Bengal tiger with a very
different look. With white fur, dark stripes and blue
eyes (also green and amber), this type of Bengal
tiger is extremely rare. This tiger is white because it
lacks the color pigment.

In the wild, a Bengal tiger can live between 8–15

years. Those in captivity (held in zoos/reserves) can
live about 20 years. The male Bengal tiger can range
up to 10 feet (3 m) long from the tip of their nose to
the end of its tail. Just their whip-like tail can be 3–4
feet (.9 m–1.2 m) in length! The female can reach
lengths of over 8 feet (2.4 m).

As for its weight, a male Bengal tiger averages about

500 pounds (225 kg). The average female weighs
about 310 pounds (141 kg).
 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 
 A day in the life of a tiger
What do you do during the day? Go to school,
do homework, stuff your belly at meal times and
munch on snacks during the day? Do you walk
around with your mp3 player in your ears or do
you sit and play video games, watch television,
go to music lessons or sporting activities? Do you
just hang around with your friends? Did you ever
sit down and try writing out a day in your life?
The tiger’s life is not as busy as yours. Its life
revolves around staying alive, watching out
for predators that wish to do them harm and
finding food. Unlike you, no one is going to
get dinner ready for them. A tiger must search
out its meals on its own. That takes lots of time
and work especially when some tigers will
trek 20 miles (32 km) in search of dinner. The
average tiger sleeps much of the day for it is at
night time when they will need to have their
strength. All that sleep will get them in tiptop
condition so they can be alert and ready to
 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
yum!
sprint 35-50 miles per hour (49-65 km per hour) cooling off
when needed to chase their prey.
It’s a lonely life. Tigers don’t hang around with
friends during the day. They prefer to stay by
themselves. Tigers are one of the few giant
cats that actually like the water. A tiger might
meander down to a nearby river, in the heat
of the day, to do a few laps in the water just to
stay cool. Some tigers will survey their kingdom
checking to see if other tigers are in the area.
Their roar echoing over two miles signals to
others in the area that they are trespassing.
They also may be communicating to the
opposite sex that they are looking for a mate.
Settling down under the shade of a tree, a tiger
might give a gentle chuff (purring sound), for
a day well spent. It’s time to get those much-
needed zzzzzz. Tomorrow will be another day,
most likely, just like today.
on the
lookout
Catching z’s
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 
Types of tigers Adaptable – able to ad
just

Genus – group
The Bengal tiger is one of several types of tigers Chuff - purring softly
that roam areas of the earth. Before the 1940s,
there were a total of eight subspecies of tigers.
Today, the Javan Tiger, the Caspian Tiger and
the Bali Tiger are extinct. The other remaining
subspecies include the Sumatran, Malayan,
Indochinese, South China, and the Siberian
(Amur) tigers.

Just how can you tell which tiger is which if

they all have stripes? Well, the Siberian is the
largest of the cat family living today. It has fewer
stripes and a lighter coloring. Its long thick fur
helps them stay warm in the colder climates
from which they originated. The smallest of
the tiger subspecies is the Sumatran tiger.
Found in Indonesia, its fur is a darker reddish
coloring. Where a Bengal tiger can average
about 500 pounds (226 kg), the Sumatran only
tips the scale at about 250 pounds (113 kg). Of
the remaining tigers, the least in number and
Indochinese Tiger
nearing extinction is the South China tiger.
Native to South Central China, there are just
30-80 left walking the earth.
Tigers are very adaptable. Home for a tiger
can be many different places. They can be
found in grasslands, evergreen forests, tropical
rain forests, mangrove swamps and even in
rocky areas. Some tigers can live with cold
temperatures of -40°C (-40°F) and as hot as
50°C (122°F). Tigers are native to Asia and not
any other continent. So, if someone says they
saw a wild tiger roaming around in Australia,
you’ll know they are telling tales!

Tigers are part of a genus called Panthera and

are the largest of the great cat family. The
jaguar, lion and leopard are also in this family. Malayan Tiger
And, something that all animals in this group
can do is... ROAR.
Sumatran Tiger
 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 
 Tiger Reserves of India
Sanctuary – a
place where
wildlife is prote
cted from thre
ats
Conservation
ist – a person
who supports
the protection
natural resourc of
es
Reserve – spa
ce set aside fo
cause (in this ca ra
se, the protect
of tigers) ion
Temple Ruins in Ranthambore
National Park, Rajasthan

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh

India has the largest remaining number of
tigers in the world. Perhaps, it is because of
the country’s conservation efforts. Over 80
national parks and 500 wildlife sanctuaries
have been set up in India to help protect all
their wonderful wildlife.
Jim Corbett National Park—named after the
hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett who
played a key role in its establishment—located
in Uttarakhand, is the oldest national park in
India. It acts as a protected area for the critically
endangered Bengal tiger of India, the secure
survival of which is the main objective of Project
Tiger, an Indian wildlife protection initiative.
Bandhavgarh National Park, in Madhya
Pradesh, is a small park but experts say it has
the highest number of tigers of any park or
10
reserve in India. Other national parks include
the Ranthambore National Park, in Rajasthan;
the Sunderbans National Park located in West
Bengal; the Pench Tiger Reserve that is spread
across both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh;
and Kanha National Park, located in Madhya
Pradesh. Kanha is one of the largest national
parks in India and the story The Jungle Book,
by Rudyard Kipling, was set in this park.
There are also many zoos including the
Nandankanan Zoological Park in Orissa, the
Guwahati Zoo in Assam, the Trivandrum Zoo
in Kerala, and the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata.
Other wildlife sanctuaries where tigers have Royal Bengal Tiger
been found include the Periyar National Park Ranthambore National Park
and Tiger Reserve (in Kerala) and the Sariska
Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan. Tiger Family
Ranthambore National Park
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 11
 Where in the world
Other places whe
re tigers still
can be found includ
mi gh t fin d one at th e San e: Nepal,
You
Ch ina, Myanmar, B
Diego Zoo, California, or at

can you find tigers?

hutan,
rid a. Intere
the Busch Gardens in Flo Sumatra (Indones
ia), Malaysia, stingly
, Mya
rs are fou nd in zo os all announ nmar
Ti ge R us sia, North Korea c e d has
. Bu t, wh er e , T hailand, w i t i s c r
over th e wo rld o rld ’s la e ating
Vietnam, Cambodi r g the
do tigers liv e in th e wi ld a, La os , an d The H e s t tiger r
st Bangladesh. ukawa eserve
or on reserves? The large S a n g V alley W .
ca n be n c t u
number of such tigers ary wi
ll be t ildlife
s i z e of J w ice the
found in India. am aica!

Locate these countries

on the world map.
• India • Russia
• Nepal • North Korea
• China • Thailand
• Myanmar • Vietnam
• Bhutan • Cambodia
• Sumatra (Indonesia) • Laos
• Malaysia • Bangladesh

12 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 13

A male Bengal tiger mates with a female in the
spring, leaving her to rear the cubs by herself.
The cubs arrive 14-15 weeks later. The male tiger
doesn’t stay around to help in any way. A female

How many strange or unusual things can you find in this picture? Hint: There are at least 10! (Answers on page 29.)
(called a tigress) will usually have 3-4 cubs at a
time. Bengal tiger cubs are born blind and weigh
as little as 2 to 3 pounds (about 1 kg). Helpless,
the young cubs cling close to their Momma
Bengal tiger. She takes very good care of her
young ones. She keeps a watchful eye out for
predators hoping to whisk away her tiny cubs

What’s wrong with this picture?

when they are in danger. Did you know that half
the baby cubs born will not live past the first few
months? She constantly massages and lovingly
licks her cubs. When needed, mother tiger
carries them, one by one, holding them by the
neck, taking them to safer areas. The female tiger
also wants a really clean environment for her
cubs. She will always make sure that their dens
are clean of any feathers and meat morsels.

Tigers and
their cubs
Like all mammals, baby Bengal tigers rely on their
mother’s milk for their nourishment. After about two
months, the Momma Bengal tiger starts to bring her
little ones meat to eat. She must leave her cubs alone
for long absences searching for food for her young. At
around 5 months of age, the cubs begin to learn the
tricks of hunting for food from their mom. Young cubs
tag along and assist in the hunt by scaring animals from
the bush for their mom to pounce upon. At around
1 year of age, the cubs will begin using all they have
learned from their mother to begin hunting on their
own. After about 2-3 years, the young tigers will move
out on their own, finding a territory to claim, each
leaving behind their mother and siblings.

14 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 15


Munch time:
What tigers eat
Bengal tigers are carnivorous meaning that
they are meat eaters. Tigers are nocturnal,
venturing out during the night to hunt their
prey. They also will hunt at dusk and in the
early morning hours. A tiger may travel 6-20
miles (10-19 km) in search of a meal.
Many things about a tiger help in its ability to
hunt. Their dark stripes help them blend into the
shadows of tall grass where they silently wait for
something to eat. Tigers also have wonderful
night vision to help them seek out their dinner.
Their bulging eyes give them a wide angle view
of their surroundings. They also have a strong
sense of smell and great hearing. Their sense of
hearing is perhaps their most powerful hunting
tool with a hearing ability 5 times that of humans.
Unable to run for long distances, a Bengal
tiger waits patiently until it can pounce upon
its unsuspecting prey. Once possible dinner is
spotted, a tiger moves at lightning speed to
capture its dinner. Using its sharp claws, a tiger
can reach out to grab its prey leaping up to
32 feet (9.7 m)! After their prey is captured, a tiger
uses its long powerful canine teeth, attacking its
prey with a bite to the throat or back of the neck.
Dinner is then dragged to the tall grass where it is
buried with leaves to be eaten later.
A tiger is capable of capturing prey much larger
than itself such as elephants and rhinoceros.
Such large prey are usually the very young or
the very old. Favorite foods of the tiger include
deer, pigs, gaur (wild ox), buffalo, and monkeys.
A Bengal tiger also eats frogs, crabs, turtles and
16
lizards. Tigers will also eat a fish or bird—if they
can catch one! Some tigers will also try and
munch on a porcupine. This is usually not done
often as the quills of a porcupine are sharp and
can cause painful cuts to a tiger’s body and face.
Stuffing on its dinner, a tiger will eat everything
except the stomach and large bones. Some
meals can be as much as 50 pounds (23 kg) in
one night. However, not every night will be a
successful hunt so there will be many nights
when a tiger doesn’t get any meal to eat. It may
take 15 tries before dinner will be captured!
Tigers will often be found eating grass and mud,
too. These help with the digestion of their prey.
After their meal is done, it’s time to slurp some
large gulps of water and then, stretch out for a
long snooze.
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
Humans and tigers
A little more than 100 years ago, over 45,000
tigers roamed India. Today, it is thought there are
less than 1500. Where have all the tigers gone?
There is a powerful and deadly enemy stalking
the tiger, walking on two feet. This enemy is man.
As man builds more towns, roads, and
hydroelectric dams, the natural habitats of the
tigers are being destroyed. Other land is being
made into farmland. With less and less places to
live and less prey to hunt, the tiger’s numbers
are dwindling.
Man is also purposely seeking out the tiger to
kill them. The tiger has a bad reputation for
eating the livestock of many villagers. And, some
tigers have attacked and killed the villagers in
search of food! Villagers kill tigers to stop them
from doing this. Still
other people are killing
the tiger to make money.
Many people of the world
still value owning tiger
t-eating
Carnivorous – mea
at night
Nocturnal – active
conditions
Habitats – natural
animal lives
in which a plant or
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
2010 will be
the Chinese
Year of the Tiger.
How might you
skins, their claws, teeth and
help save
bones. Many people will the tiger?
pay large sums of money
for such things. Tiger parts are also used in
traditional medicines for cures from headaches,
pimples, toothaches and more.
The tigers’ enemy may also be its only hope.
India has been on the forefront of trying
conservation efforts to save the tiger and
its habitat. Project Tiger established 27 tiger
reserves across the country. Today, more
than 23,464 square miles (37,761 sq km) are
protected wildlife reserves. The National Tiger
Conservation Authority continues efforts to
help save this majestic animal from extinction.
Additionally, zoos around the world play an
important part. More than just a place to display
these wonderful creatures, zoologists study their
behavior and biology, searching for ways to
ensure tigers will continue to walk the planet.
17
 Kuyili and the Tiger
A short story by Swami Appa
How would you feel if you get to meet a real tiger?
Kuyili, a little village girl from somewhere in India, finds out... Read on...
It was not that Kuyili did not remember her
mother’s advice that morning. Amma’s warning
about the tiger that escaped the circus was still
very much in her mind.
“Don’t wander into the jungle for a few days, Kuyili.
You know about the tiger that escaped Krishna’s
Circus? People say it is roaming the jungles near
the village. So stay as far from the jungle as
possible.” The message had been loud and clear.
But the walk through the jungle was a part
of Kuyili’s daily routine that she most loved.
Collecting twigs for firewood was just an excuse.
For her, walking through the woods meant
experiencing the wonders of the wild. The
beautiful wild flowers, the incessant chirping of
the song birds, a chance to play with colorful
butterflies; the rivers, the streams, the cool breeze;
it was her world!
And it was too much for her to miss—even for a
few days.
Moreover, now the jungle had an important new
member. A tiger! “A Royal Bengal tiger” as the
announcer at the circus had exclaimed to roars of
applause. How could she stay away?
“Royal Bengal tiger”, Kuyili repeated in her mind as
she walked towards the woods. Even the sound of
it gave a feeling of greatness. What could it mean?
Kuyili wondered. Royal King? King Tiger? Isn’t the
Lion the king of the jungle? Is this tiger so great
that he alone was crowned king of some jungle?
Bengal—what could that mean? She couldn’t
think of anything…
18
She remembered the day when she went to the
circus. That was her first time at a circus and the
thing that struck her immediately was the brilliant
lights. It was as if a thousand stars had descended
on her village that night. Until then, she’d never
imagined that animals could perform all those
tricks—doing somersaults, dance, and even sing.
She remembered the great show that the tiger
put on to such perfection. He had been the star of
the night. Kuyili had thought that all the animals,
including the tiger, seemed so happy entertaining
the kids who had been there with her that night.
She cherished the memories from that night.
That brought her to the big question. Why would
a tiger want to escape such a nice place? She, for
one, had not wanted to leave that circus that day
—even after the show was long over. Could it be
that someone jealous of the success of the circus
could have stolen the tiger from the circus? Could
someone actually steal a tiger? That didn’t seem
quite an easy thing to do. Or could it be that the
tiger wandered out unknowingly into the jungle
and couldn’t find his way back? That seemed
possible…
With all these thoughts keeping her company
Kuyili wandered through her usual route, into the
jungle, well past the boundaries of village life.
She thought to herself, ‘Not that I want to ignore
Amma’s advice. I will be most careful! But I don’t
want to miss a chance to get a glimpse of that
tiger!’ In any case, being a regular in the jungle,
she thought she knew enough hideouts to take
cover even if the tiger came after her.
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
She looked around. After making sure that there He repeated, only a little louder, “How old are you?”
was no tiger in sight, she got on to her daily job which sent one more shiver down her spine.
which was to collect enough firewood for the
night. Humming her favorite song, she went twig That the tiger didn’t come up with a more
after twig and loaded up her cloth bag. customary greeting didn’t quite bother her. That
he could talk definitely did.
Before long the sun was right above her head and
she felt thirsty. She walked up to the pond nearby A tiger could talk? She couldn’t believe her ears!
and drank a few handfuls of water. It felt so nice
Not knowing what to do, she decided to respond.
and cool. She turned around to pick her bag up,
“Er… what? Sir?” was all she could muster.
only to find that it was not there anymore.
The tiger got a little impatient.
“How old are you?” she heard a growling voice.
“You are human aren’t you? You must know your
She looked up and to her horror, found herself
age then… How old are you?” he roared with an
staring into the eyes of the tiger. Just a few feet
air of authority.
away, with a frowning face and majestic look, at
least 10 times bigger than her, there he was, the
“Ten, sir!” she responded still full with fear, not
Royal Bengal tiger. He had her bagful of twigs by
quite sure what would follow.
his front right paw. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Hmm… only ten and you are allowed to roam
In her shock and awe, she completely missed that
alone in the wild?” asked the tiger, just like any
fact that he’d asked her a question.
elderly man in her village would.
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 19
Kuyili swallowed hard before responding. “Not
really sir. Amma told me that I should not go in
to the wild today since there was this ferocious
tiger that had escaped the circus. There is also
the rumor that the tiger is a man-eater and…” she
stopped herself, realizing that she was less than
10 feet away from the same tiger that her Amma
wanted her to stay away from.
“Well, looks like someone’s forgotten mother’s
advice!” said the tiger, with a roar of laughter.
Kuyili felt stupid and embarrassed. Imagine telling
the tiger himself that he was a man-eater!
The laughter didn’t last too long. He was suddenly
quiet. He stared at a distance and his face was
full of deep concern, weariness, even sadness.
Something was bothering him, thought Kuyili.
“Grmmmmm…” the tiger groaned.
“For one, I am no man-eater!” he said after a long
pause.
There was a long and uncomfortable silence
after that. The tiger’s apparent sadness, for some
reason, troubled Kuyili. The fear for the tiger was
slowly being replaced by mild concern for him.
She wanted to say something that would maybe
comfort him, but she couldn’t figure out what.
The only idea she could think of was to talk about
the circus. Maybe that would bring some cheer.
“I was there at the circus, you know, sir?” she
started off. “The other night? I really loved it all.
And so did all my friends”
The tiger was listening, for sure. But there was
no response. He was still staring at nowhere with
raised eyebrows and a worried look in his face.
Kuyili decided to continue. Maybe she’d try
flattery.
20
“I particularly liked your show! Wow, how
wonderful it was! That “Game of Fire” you played
jumping and whistling past those rings of fire with
such speed and style…”
There was no response from the tiger. He was not
even looking at her.
Could it be that the tiger didn’t really escape
and was just lost, as she’d thought before?
Could it be that he wanted to get back to the
circus? Maybe he was offended by what she has
said about him earlier.
So now she tried apology.
“I am sorry if I have offended you in anyway, sir. I
just assumed you escaped the circus. Maybe you
are just… lost. Do you want to get back to the
circus? Can I help in some way?”
The tiger didn’t give any immediate response. He
seemed to be someone who thought a lot before
saying anything. Quite unlike herself!
After a pause, he let out a groan and then said “Let
me tell you, young girl, it is only now that you are
beginning to offend me talking about getting me
back to that stupid circus!”
One of Kuyili’s questions had been answered. The
tiger has indeed escaped the circus. He hadn’t
quite like it there, she guessed, else why would he
call it stupid? But why was he still sad, then? She
couldn’t understand that.
But now that it seemed possible to engage him in
conversation, Kuyili thought, why not carry on?
“So you like it here? In the jungle?” Kuyili asked.
The tiger thought for a while. Then followed by a
mild roar he simply said “I don’t know…”
Kuyili was very puzzled. It seemed to her that
the tiger was very lonely in this jungle and that
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
is the reason for his sadness. What she couldn’t
understand was why would anyone leave such a
colorful and cheerful place like the circus and want
to spend time in such a lonesome forest.
Just when she was about to ask the tiger about it,
the tiger asked, “Do you come here daily?”
“Yes, I do” Kuyili responded cheerfully, “except
when I am visiting my grandma who lives in a
village far away from here”
The tiger asked after a pause, “Do you like this forest?”
“Oh yes! I love my time here everyday!!” Kuyili’s
response couldn’t hide the excitement and joy that
the jungle brought to her.
“Hmm… I was born here, I think!” the tiger said.
Kuyili thought that the tiger was now willing to
talk about himself. And it made her happy!
“How interesting!” Kuyili exclaimed.
“But it is not the same as I can remember.”
“Oh, was it even more beautiful when you left it?”
“I don’t know what to say about how beautiful it
was but definitely there were many more tigers.
This forest used to be ours! Or so we thought. I
see none of my kind now. Maybe they were also
caught and transported to various circuses.”
Kuyili thought about what the tiger just said. She
was slowly starting to relate to what the tiger
was saying. So far she had just been thinking
about what the circus meant to her. Now, in this
conversation, she was starting to realize what it
meant to be a tiger and be in a circus.
The circus was a place that the tiger had been
taken away to. The jungle was the place he had
spent his early days, played with his friends and
lived with his family. This forest was tiger’s home.
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
The circus was not.
But then what about the loneliness? She thought
to herself, if the place you come back to has no
one you know, of what good is that home? At
least in the circus there would have been people
and other animals that the tiger knew.
Here there was no one, except for now, her!
“Why did you leave the circus?” she couldn’t resist
asking.
The tiger looked her in the eye. There was no
response. There was that uncomfortable silence,
again. It was almost as if the tiger did not want to
answer that.
Kuyili was beginning to think that she had angered
the tiger, when the tiger said, “Why did you come
to the forest even after your mother warned you?”
Kuyili didn’t quite understand how that was
connected to her question. But she thought
answering that was a good way of not irritating
the tiger more.
Why did she come even after her mother’s
warning? She didn’t know how to explain to a
tiger about what the forest meant to her.
She just said, “I don’t know. I just trotted along like
everyday. Didn’t quite think about it, I guess!”
The tiger didn’t seem convinced. He waited for a
while and then said, “Well, I am sure the ferocious
man-eater tiger that your mother talked about
would have been on your mind. There must be
something else that made you come.”
Kuyili pondered. The tiger was probably right. She
clearly remembered her mother’s words. Still she
had come into the jungle.
She said, “I don’t know whether you will
understand. But the daily visit to the forest gives
21
me joy, gives me a chance to drown in dreams The tiger let out a yawn… Then said, “Well, you can

BengalBengal
tiger Tigers
crossword
under the shade of the big banyan tree, to be in go tell her that there is at least one that isn’t!”
the company of the butterflies, the birds, the deer,
the beautiful wild flowers… I am all to myself and Kuyili laughed! She went near the tiger and picked
there are no rules. The forest gives me…”, Kuyili up her bag of twigs, thanked the tiger and got
paused for the right word… ready to leave. Looking at the tiger’s loneliness, 1 2 3

“The forest gives me……” she couldn’t quite find
the right word…
“Freedom”, completed the tiger.
“Yes, freedom”, she agreed!
They both stood there in silence. Kuyili thought
about what they had just discussed. The taste of
freedom that the forest gave Kuyili was what she
most liked. That’s what pulled her back in.
Could it be that the tiger too, wanted that the
most? Complete freedom… What more could
anyone ask for, Kuyili thought.
Kuyili had realized something important. She had
realized what it meant to be a tiger in the wild!
“Yes, freedom!” she said once again.
she didn’t want to leave, but she had to. The sun 4 5
had set and it was getting darker by the minute.
She wanted to assure him she would visit him
again tomorrow. 6 7
Just as she collected herself and was ready to
leave, something remarkable happened. They
both heard a loud roar! They both couldn’t believe 8 9 10
what they heard. Then they heard it again!
The tiger stood still, fully alert and looked in the 11
direction of the roar! His eyes lit up. Then the 12
roar was heard for the third time. He immediately
jumped up and without a word leapt into the
darkness. 13
It all happened so quickly that Kuyili couldn’t fully
14
understand what had happened. But something
told her that the tiger had gone in search of what
he needed the most. She was very happy for that!
www.CrosswordWeaver.com

There was an easy quiet in their midst now.

On her walk back home, Kuyili thought about the
most remarkable events of the day! The evening
Across
ACROSS DOWN
Down
Almost as if, they were communicating in silence.
at the circus paled in comparison to what she had 1 Tigers
1 Tigers thatthat
do do
notnot
livelive in the
in the wild
wild but
but 22 The
Thecontinent
continentwherewheretigers
tigers are
are natively
As if there was complete harmony.
experienced just now!
livelive
in ainzoo
a zoo or preserve.
or reserve. They live this natively
found. found.
It was getting dark and Kuyili thought her mother 6
way.Being able to change to your 3 The name for a female tiger.
She might never see that tiger again, but as she 3 The name for a female tiger.
would be very worried. “I have to go now.” surroundings. 4 Someone that illegally kills a
entered her house, she thought, she knew that the 6 Being able to change to your 4 protected
Someoneanimal that illegally kills a protected
7 Animals that are meat eaters. like a tiger.
The tiger was quiet. The sadness was still there, tiger was in a place where he wanted to be, how surroundings.
8 When there are none left of a 5 Theanimal
soundlikeaatiger
tiger.makes, something
only a little bit more, now that Kuyili was leaving. he wanted to be. And she couldn’t ask for more. 7 Animals
species.that eat meat. 5 like
Theasound
purring noise.makes, something
a tiger
8 12
WhenTigerthere
live are
thisnone
kind ofleftlife,
of preferring
a species. 9 To likebea active
purring at noise.
night.
She thought of some way she’d keep him engaged “Where had you been for so long!?”, her mother to stay by themselves.
12 Tigers live this kind of life, preferring to 109 AToscientist
be activethatatstudies
night. animals.
in conversation a little bit more. She said, “Amma asked in a loud voice as she entered home.
stayAn
13 byidea of returning a species such
themselves. 11 The
10 country with the most tigers still
A scientist that studies animals.
told me that all tigers are man-eaters!” This was as the tiger back into the wild. found in the wild.
something that was bothering her all through her
“Oh just here and there,” she answered with a 13 An idea of returning a species such as 11 The country with the most tigers still
14 The natural home area of a tiger. 12 The name for a group of tigers(also
secret smile. the tiger back into the wild. foundan in ambush)
the wild.
conversation. The quiet, thinking, talking tiger was called
rather unusual for her. 14 The natural home area of any animal. 12 The name for a group of tigers (also
A smile that stayed on her lips all through the
called an ambush).
evening and even as she fell asleep.
(Answers on page 29.)

22 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 23

 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Bengal tigers aren’t known for buddying is made by a tiger when it’s happy or being
around with other tigers. They are creatures affectionate. Captive tigers also use the chuff

Maze
Help the mother
who tend to stay by themselves. They live and
hunt alone and do not like sharing their space
with others. To announce to other tigers in the
with their keepers. 

Tigers use their tails to help keep their balance

area that this land is their land, tigers mark but they also use it as a way to “talk” with other
tiger find her cub.
their territory by scratching barks of trees with tigers. If a tiger lifts its tail in an upright position
(Solution on page 29.) and wags it back and forth, this demonstrates
their long sharp claws. Tigers then mark these
areas with their strong-smelling urine. This friendliness. Swishing a tail from side to side
warns other tigers to stay away and not hunt shows they are excited. Have you ever heard
there unless they want a fight. These territory the phrase, “tail between its legs”? If you have,
markings also tell other tigers the sex and you probably think it means an animal is scared
breeding status of the tiger in the area. Tigers or frightened. Not so with tiger talk! If a tiger
usually only get together for mating. lowers its tail between its legs, you’d better
beware. That’s a sign of anger!
Because tigers stay by themselves, their roar
is very important. It lets others know they are Although tigers tend to want their space, when
in the area. Tigers make other noises, too. In a number of them get together, this is called
addition to the roar, tigers make another sound a streak (or ambush). Can you think of when
called its chuff. Just like humans have different there might be several tigers living together in
Word Search M N G N I H C A O P P U T L J B A T
S F D M S I R G I T A R E H T N A P
voices, tigers each have their very own chuff.
Made through their noses, this purring sound
a streak?1 Which tiger might be the boss in a
streak? 2 (See below for answers.)
Below are a set of words that you have G O J D A C A S P I A N N H P X D L
seen—or will find—in this magazine.
N A I R E B I S K V U V B N M S V A
Now, find these words in the jumble!
Words will appear horizontally,
Z S I P X H A T E E H C O K J O Y G
vertically, diagonally or backwards. Z T P Q R V P R J H P I R A U U I N
K R J J B O O N L Q L Z G L K T G E
African Lion Nocturnal
U E S N O V J I J N T U Z S N H H B
Asian Lion Panthera tigris
J A R S I A S E A V A I U T O C L Z
Bali Poaching
S K D N N D C I C R P F Q B I H A M
Bengal Project Tiger
F C R I Z A S A M T H M Z M L I N U
Carnivore Siberian
Q A Z O Y A B B B K T J H P N N R N
Caspian South China
C J K D T Y C R I R G I H C A A U D
Cheetah Streak
N A R T A M U S E Z A N G W C D T X
Chuff Sumatran
Z V V J K C V O K D J Y T E I A C K
Jaguar Sunderbans
T A N J I N S L U A N G Y U R R O X
Javan  
Q N C F F U H C V N J U C Q F W N N
(Solution on page 29.)
Q X E V K W I L A B O K S G A A S S
1. Momma and her cubs make a streak. 2. The most powerful tiger in the streak is the leader—in this case, it’s the Momma.

24 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 25

 Debunking tiger myths A Bengal tiger’s
stripes are like
Because a Bengal
tiger likes to come
Did you ever hear that chocolate can cause
Myth: Tigers pounce from trees. fingerprints, no up from behind
pimples? Scientists say this is a myth, a false In a recent Animal
on its prey, some
statement that has been passed down through two are alike! Planet poll, the tiger
the years that isn’t really true. There are many villagers have been
myths about the tiger, too. Many of these are
was named the world’s
known to wear
not correct. favorite animal! It beat
The ROAR of painted face masks
out the dog for
A popular myth about the tiger is that its ancestor
a Bengal tiger on the backs of
was the saber tooth tiger. This prehistoric creature first place.
with its long fangs is not even a close cousin of the can be heard their head to help
modern day tiger. Another myth about the tiger is prevent attacks.
that it roars just before attacking their prey. Again,
up to two miles The Mughal Emperor
Fact: Tigers don’t often climb trees.
this isn’t correct. A tiger will silently stalk its prey away (three Jahangir is said to have
and pounce when it thinks the timing is right. Why Finally, you may have heard people call tigers
would it want to give a warning to its prey that it “man-eaters” and that they will attack people
kilometers). had captured tigers Some people have
roaming freely at his
was on the hunt? at every opportunity they get. This is a myth as believed the whiskers
well. Most tigers avoid human contact as much place. He also tried and
Myth: White tigers are albino. as they can. Of course, there have been cases Did you know that failed at milking one! of a Bengal tiger could
where a tiger has killed a human. The mangrove
a Bengal tiger likes cure toothaches!
swamps of Sunderbans in Bengal have had
reports of healthy tigers preying on men. to walk backwards, As far back as
However, most man-eating tigers are usually old The last Bali tiger
and sick and can’t hunt in a normal way. Seeing especially into the 2500 BC, the ancient
died in the 1940s, the last
a young or older person hunched over, as on all water? That’s so it can civilizations of the
Caspian tiger in the 1970s,
fours, may look to a tiger as one of their prey. Indus Valley left
keep an eye on its and the Javan tiger was
Fact: White tigers are without pigment. Myths continue because people don’t have all behind ancient seals
surroundings. last seen in the 1980s.
There are some Bengal tigers that are born
the facts. Use what you’ve learned here to dispel showing tigers.
myths about the tiger!
white (and other tigers, too) and a myth is that They were a symbol
these creatures are albinos (creatures that lack of power and were The Siberian tiger
pigment coloring). This is also untrue as white
The Association
worshipped. is the largest cat
tigers have blue eyes and not the pink eye of Zoos and Aquariums
coloring of albinos. say that about 12,000 in the world. The
Albino - cre
pigment co
atures that la
ck tigers are kept as pets in biggest one on
Perhaps, you’ve watched a movie with a tiger loring Tiger hunting was the pastime
lying in wait perched high above in a tree. This, Debunking the United States! That’s of ancient kings. The Great record is a Siberian
too, is another myth about the tiger. Although a - to show th
something is at many more than those
wrong or fa Mughal King Babar, was given that weighed 1025
tiger can climb trees, their weight usually makes lse
it too much of a task to climb! left in the wild! the title, The Tiger. pounds (465 kg).

26 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 27

 Tigers
in Hindu Religion
and Mythology
The majestic tiger can be found in the Indian
religion of Hinduism. The tiger symbolizes
power and beauty. You’ve probably read
about Lord Aiyappa who bravely rode on a
tiger’s back. Shiva, the God considered the
destroyer of evil, wears a tiger skin, to show his
power. The goddess Durga, is always shown
riding on the back of a tiger. Again, the tiger
shows her power to fight evil. The goddess,
Parvathi, is usually found seated on a pedestal
of a tiger.
In some villages, temples were built to
worship the great orange and black cat.
photo: McKay Savage
28
The tiger also has long been part of the
folklore of Indian people. In southern coastal
India, festivals celebrate the tiger. People paint
themselves in the orange and black colors
of the tiger and dance in the streets. Some
people also believe that the tiger created
the rain and can end periods of drought. Still
others believe the image of a tiger can protect
children and can prevent nightmares.
What other culture celebrates the tiger? The
Chinese of course! The tiger is one of the
Chinese zodiac signs. If you were born in the
Year of the Tiger you are considered magnetic,
charismatic, and a natural leader. Why don’t
you do some research and see if you were
born in the Year of the Tiger?! A hint: 2010 is
going to be the Year of the Tiger—and it only
comes every 12 years.
In Thailand is the famous Wat Tham Sua, the
temple of the Tiger Cave. Some 260 monks
and nuns live in this temple complex. In the
cave there are marks in the stone said to be
tiger paw prints which is how the cave got its
name. The cave is a place of archaeological
and historical interest. Stone tools, pottery
remains, and other items have been found in
excavations here. The main attraction of the
temple is the footprint of the Buddha. But—
be prepared—you’ll have to climb 1,272
steps to see the footprint!
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
Match the columns!
The column on the left lists some of the most well know national parks and tiger
reserves in India. On the right column are various Indian states. Can you match up the
national park/ tiger reserve to the Indian state in which it is located? (Answers below.)
1 Corbett National Park a Madhya Pradesh
2 Valmiki Tiger Reserve b Rajasthan
3 Kaziranga National Park c Karnataka
4 Kanha Tiger Reserve d Uttaranchal
5 Silent Valley National Park e Haryana
6 Nagarhole National Park f Assam
7 Namdapha Tiger Reserve g Jammu and Kashmir
8 Sunderbans National Park h Andhra Pradesh
9 Sultanpur National Park i Kerala
10 Dachigam National Park j Tamil Nadu
11 Nanda Devi National Park k West Bengal
12 Sri Venkateshwara National Park l Uttar Pradesh
13 Mudumalai National park m Orissa
14 Sariska Tiger Reserve n Bihar
15 Satkosia Tiger Reserve o Arunachal Pradesh
Maze, page 24:
Solutions to Puzzles
in this issue of Glo Adventurer
What’s wrong with this picture?, page 15:
computer monitor, ladder, steering wheel,
traffic signal, skateboard, anchor, bucket,
water tap, camel, seal
Crossword, page 23: Word Search,
Across 1-captivity, 6-adapt, 7-carnivorous , page 24:
8-extinct, 12-solitary, 13-rewilding, 14-habitat,
Down 2-asia, 3-tigress, 4-poacher, 5-chuff,
9-nocturnal, 10-zoologist,11-india, 15-streak
Match the Columns, page 29:
1-d, 2-n, 3-f, 4-a, 5-i, 6-c, 7-o, 8-k,
9-e, 10-g, 11-l, 12-h, 13-j, 14-b, 15-m
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 29
 Rewilding Efforts
How do we increase the population of wild
tigers? You can’t just release all the tigers raised
in a zoo and let them back into the wild. Why?
Captive bred tigers have gotten soft. Life is easy.
They get their meals delivered to them without
having to go off on a hunt. If they get the sniffles
or a toothache, they get medical treatment. And,
they’ve gotten used to humans being around
them and visitors constantly snapping their
photographs. Such tigers just wouldn’t know
how to hunt and survive in the wild. They’d
quickly die and with the dwindling number
of tigers in the world, this just isn’t an option.
Rewilding is the idea of returning species such
as the tiger back into the wild. But first, they’d
have to brush up on the skills going to a kind of
tiger school. Tigers would need to learn how to
become “wild” once again.
30
in South Africa
Rare captive-bred South China tigers are part of
the rewilding project taking place in South Africa.
The South China tiger is extremely rare and almost
extinct. South Africa was selected because of its
vast areas of land and game to train these tigers
to become wild again. It is hoped that one day
these tigers will graduate from tiger school and be
released into the wilds of China.
However, the project has caused lots of discussion.
South Africa isn’t the natural habitat of tigers.
Some fear that tigers could negatively change the
ecosystem of Africa. Others say that we should try
to save the tiger from extinction, wherever we can.
What do you think? We would
love to hear your opinions on
rewilding! Email us at voices@
gloadventurer.com
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
Draw a tiger in 6 easy steps
Make a tiger puppet
Things needed
• heavy card stock in orange or any other
color you want your tiger to be
• scissors
• 1/16th” hole punch or a nail or other
sharp object to make holes
• 2 tiny brads
• black permanent marker
• Scotch tape
• 4 bamboo skewers
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India
Instructions
1. Trace a picture of a tiger onto orange card stock
(the thicker the paper the better).
2. Cut out the body and the legs. (Do not cut the
inside lines of the face).
3. Punch holes on the dots using 1/16” hole
punch. (Use a nail or skewer if small size punch
is not available).
4. Using a black permanent marker draw your
stripes and add details to the face. (Hint: you
can use the activity above.)
5. Place one leg above the body, the other leg
beneath the body.
6. Insert one brad through the hole of one leg
then the body and then the second leg such
that one leg is in the front and the other in the
back. Separate prongs of the brad and spread
flush with paper at the back.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the other set of legs.
8. Using scotch tape affix the bamboo skewers to
the back of the legs.
9. Use it as a rod puppet or as a shadow puppet.
31
Dear Readers—it’s time to meet our brave, young
explorer, Vicky, and his faithful, equally brave,
German Shepherd, Jo!
Tigers in
Vicky and Jo travel to the far corners of India with
Vicky’s journalist parents and get to experience all
the wonderful sights and sounds that the country
Pop Culture
offers. Vicky keeps a journal on all his adventures
—it’s something his parents always encourage him Tigers aren’t just found in the wild or in zoos. You can spot
to do! You see, they travel so much that writing it
down is the only way Vicky is going to remember them roaming around in lots of different places in today’s
the fun, fascinating things he learns!
culture. Careful, you may even have one in your bedroom,
And you’ll see in each issue of Glo, Vicky will share excerpts from his journal with
all of you! We enjoy it very much—hope you do too!!! your kitchen or the sports stadium in your city!

My first wildlife safari - and I spotted a tiger!

• The Bengal tiger is the national animal in • An NFL team
At 6:30 am this morning Jo and I sat bouncing atop a jeep at the Jim Corbett National Park ready for our the countries of India, China, Bangladesh, is called the
first wildlife safari! With us were our guide and the driver of the jeep. Early morning is one of the best times
Malaysia and Nepal. The Siberian tiger is the Cincinnati
to spot a tiger. Mother mentioned that late afternoon is the other.
national animal in North and South Korea. Bengals.
The sky was a wonderful pink/orange color as we made our way through the park. We drove past
• Tiger Pataudi (formal name: Mansoor • A.A. Milne features
beautiful plants, some with huge leaves and strong smells. And we saw a lot of animals - leopards, deer,
Ali Khan Pataudi) was the captain of the Tigger, the tiger,
chital, monkeys - what a wonderful assortment of wildlife! I loved the gibbering sounds of the monkeys. I
had Father’s small camera with me and happily clicked away. Indian cricket team from 1962 to 1970. in his Winnie the
Pooh stories.
Our guide frequently reminded us to ”remain very quiet and keep a look out!” He asked us to watch for
• Hodori was a tiger cub mascot of the 1988
fresh pugmarks (tracks) of the tiger. He suggested we keep an eye out for alarm signs from other animals. Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. • Calvin and Hobbes,
He also said we had to use our noses! A tiger gives off a strong urination scent (eeuck)! a comic strip, has a
• The tiger is one of the 12 animals given a stuffed tiger named
It got warm pretty quickly. I had just put the camera down to remove my sweater when the guide patted year in the Chinese Zodiac. Hobbes.
me on my shoulder and pointed to a spot some distance away. ”TIGER”, he said softly. I turned to where he
was pointing. In a partially covered rock area, overlooking a watering hole was a young tiger. It looked • A Major League • One of the greatest
pretty big to me but our guide said Baseball team uses the golfers today is named
that the tiger was maybe 3 name Detroit Tigers. Tiger Woods!
years old. It was stretched
out and dozing. And even • A tiger mascot and
then it looked powerful! having a ”tiger in your
Click, Click, Click... I went tank” was a symbol of
crazy with my camera. ExxonMobil.

We stayed a few minutes • The company, Kelloggs, used Tony the

to enjoy the sight and then Tiger for its Frosted Flakes cereal. Can you think of other examples of
slowly drove away. We didn’t
see any other tiger after
how the tiger has been used in our
• Sher Khan the Tiger is a main character in
that but what an awesome pop culture? Send them along to us
Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
scene it was - I’ll remember at voices@gloadventurer.com.
this safari forever!

32 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 33

 Poaching
To hunt the majestic tiger was once
the sport of kings. Wealthy people
throughout history went on safaris in
search of a tiger. Successful hunters
mounted a tiger head on a wall or
made a rug from its skin. Such displays
supposedly showed the skill and
bravery of the hunter.
When the number of tigers became
increasingly low, countries banned
the killing of the tiger. But, people still
search out tigers to kill them. These
people are called poachers.
A poacher is someone who illegally kills
a protected animal. It is estimated that
250 tigers are killed each year in India.
Tiger poachers sneak onto national
parks and reserves and set traps near
watering holes. They lie in wait with
rifles or they poison the carcasses of
dead animals waiting for tigers to come
upon them. They also spread live wires
along paths hoping to electrocute an
unsuspecting tiger. Why do poachers
do these things? It’s for money. Lots of
it. A tiger pelt in good condition can
fetch as much as $10,000. A pound (half
a kilo) of ground up tiger bone can be
worth hundreds of dollars.
Park police try to catch poachers but
their task is very difficult. The area at
nature parks is so large and the park
police numbers are small. Poachers
caught are sentenced to very stern
fines including three years of jail and
thousands of dollars in fines.
34
Note from the
Glo Adventurer team:
Welcome to the first issue of Glo Adventurer! Our goal is to help you explore India
– its natural wonders, its people and their culture, its infrastructure juxtaposed with its
ancient heritage… and much, much more. India is an adventure and with each issue of the
Glo Adventurer magazine you will get to journey to the far corners of India and explore to
your heart’s content!
Now, some thoughts about this specific issue of the magazine. Young or old, most people
are fascinated with animals - especially an animal as powerful and magnificent as the
Bengal tiger. There is so much to explore when it comes to this powerful animal. That’s why
everything covered in this magazine revolves around the Bengal tiger - from the articles to
the activities to the cool facts and the craft ideas.
The Bengal tiger is the most numerous of all the tiger species and easily one of the most
popular of all big cats. You will find this tiger featured prominently in Indian art, mythology,
movies and literature. The Tigers in Pop Culture section was written to give you an insight
into how widespread the tiger’s reputation really is!
There is enough evidence in this book to understand why the Bengal Tiger is considered
symbolic of India. But this beautiful creature is in terrible trouble. About one hundred years
ago, more than 45,000 Bengal tigers roamed India’s forests. According to the last tiger census
released by the Government of India in February, 2008, only 1,411 Bengal tigers remain.
How could this happen? Where did these tigers go? Is there any way to stop the dwindling
population that is heading toward extinction? Will we reach a day, in the not so distant
future, where the only tigers left will be those in captivity and not freely roaming the wild? Is
there anything you can do to help?
What do you think are additional things
Hopefully this issue has helped you better understand their plight; now armed with this
that people can do to stop the poaching of knowledge, you have the potential to help the Bengal tiger. Don your thinking cap and share
tigers and other endangered species? with us your thoughts and ideas on how we can continue to protect the Bengal tiger – or
any of the other tiger species. You can email us your thoughts at voices@gloadventurer.com.
Select entries will be published in subsequent issues so that others can be inspired!
Thank you for joining us on this journey to India! Until next time!
Journey to India with these upcoming issues of Glo Adventurer and explore:
• The Indian Railways – India’s lifeline
Banned – fo
rbidden • The Taj Mahal – a teardrop on the cheek of time
Poacher – il
legal hunter • New Delhi – India’s capital
• The Indian Monsoon - a force to be reckoned with
Glo Adventurer: Journey to India Glo Adventurer: Journey to India 35
 Don’t forget to check out Volume 1, Issue
1

these upcoming issues: Glo Adventurer

– Journey to Indi
a
10 issues per year
, only $30*

• The Indian Railways – India’s lifeline Subscribe at www

.GloAdventurer.c
om.

• The Taj Mahal – a teardrop on the cheek of time *Plus $4.95 ship
ping and handlin
g

• New Delhi – India’s capital

• The Indian Monsoon - a force to be reckoned with back cover

Glo Adventurer
– Journey to India
10 issues per year, only $30*
*Plus $5.95 shipping and handling Th e
Subscribe at
www.GloAdventurer.com
B engalTiger

Content, illustrations © 2009, Zorvi LLC.

Reproductions of this magazine are not
permitted without permission from the
Send in publisher.
your comments
www.gloadventurer.com
and feedback! Email:
voices@gloadventurer.com. Printed in India.

36 Glo Adventurer: Journey to India