Read Peter Jackson's expert answers to your questions on the following topics:
Tiger size
Tiger types
Tiger travel
Cat aggression
Cat DNA
Cheetah classification
Lion differences
Cat speed
Tiger tolerance
Tiger defenses

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Q: On Tiger Size

How long do Siberian and Bengal tigers live in the wild and in captivity, and what is the largest size of both species on record?

A: Tigers may live to be about 16 years old in the wild. In captivity, there is a record of one dying at age 26, and many live to around 20.

The largest wild Siberian tiger on record weighed 384 kilograms (845 pounds), while a captive lion weighed 423 kilograms (930 pounds). Some Bengal tigers grow to the same length as Siberian tigers, but they are less stocky and the maximum weight recorded for a wild Bengal tiger is 258.2 kilograms (568 pounds). Weights can vary substantially depending on whether the tiger has just fully fed or has an empty belly.

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Q: How big is a Siberian tiger when compared with an African lion? Also how big is a full-grown Siberian tiger when compared with a human?
A: The biggest Siberian tigers and African lions are about the same size, and there is controversy about which is the larger. The largest wild lion on record, found in South Africa, weighed 313 kilograms (688 pounds). A wild Siberian tiger weighed 384 kilograms (845 pounds). The trouble is that very few wild lions or tigers have been weighed, and weights can vary substantially depending on whether the cat has just fully fed or has an empty belly.