L.I: WALT summarise the main ideas.

Tigers.

The tiger is not just any cat. It is the biggest cat in the world.

The Tiger's natural habitat is found mostly in forests or jungles although it is also common for tigers to live in swamps, reeds, caves and even old buildings when they have no other choice.

There are about eight subspecies of tiger, but already three are already extinct. One of the reasons for this is due to their territory disappearing for humans to build cities and farm lands, leaving tigers homeless, hungry and starving to death. Also, the cat is becoming close to extinction due to poaching. Poaching is illegal hunting of animals. Tigers coat is worth a lot of money. Other uses of the tiger include: traditional Chinese medicine for its bones, and the eyes - which are sold for good luck charms.

The tiger is an excellent swimmer. It has webbing between its toes that can spread to help it swim very quickly. Therefore, tigers can attack prey on the other side of the river for dinner.

Tigers stalk their prey. Silently, a tiger creeps closer to its unwary animal. As it gets closer to its victim, the tiger springs, taking its victim by surprise. To capture smaller animals, the tiger will attack the spinal cord which causes the prey to die quickly. When capturing larger animals, the tiger will attack from behind. It will grab the beast's neck with its front legs and claws and throws it to the ground. Usually, breaking the animal's neck.

Humans are close to destroying one of the world's biggest cats and yet there does not seem to be any urgency for this to stop.

Kahurangi Reading Group