Tigers are some of the most beautiful and iconic animals in the world, and so many people view them as a symbol of power.

They are the largest amongst other wild cats, and their image has been used in many purposes – from logos to badges and even flags, and from clothing to many different items used in entertainment.

For example, the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, that won four Oscars in 2001, or “Jungle Book”, or even that famous song from “Rocky”, “The Eye of the Tiger”. There are also many books with tigers, most of them for children, and also entire TV shows from National Geographic where you can watch them spring at over 60 kilometers/hour or hunt.

The tigers are so famous in the world, that there are also online video slots, for example Electric Tiger, which can be played at casino PA on 15 paylines.

But what other interesting things are there about tigers? Here is a list of 10 facts you probably didn’t know about these huge cats:

• How long do tigers live?

Wether they are kept in captivity or in the wild, the tigers have a life expectancy of usually 20 years at most. There are rare cases in which the tigers exceed this age.

• Only half of the tiger cubs survive

Just to have an idea about how difficult is to reach that age, you must know that half of the cubs don’t survive, and all of them are born blind. Sometimes they just can’t keep up or get eaten.

• Tigers don’t see the humans as a prey

You may think of tigers like something to be really afraid of. But the truth is that these wild cats don’t see us as a prey. They only kill the humans when felling threatened.

• Tigers are more likely to hunt and kill by ambush

These animals use their camouflage and their stripes to hide behind bushes and then attack the victim from behind. Also, tigers are less likely to attack and kill when the humas are looking at them, so it is advisable to retreat backwards and look in its eyes, if you encounter a tiger.

• They don’t purr

This is funny, because you may be wondering if they have that much in common with the cats. Well, they don’t purr, even though they make loud noises. But not purring, that’s for sure!

• Did you notice the white spots on the back of the ears?

Well, almost for sure, you didn’t notice that, but tigers do have those. And the experts can’t be really convinced why is that. Some say that the spots mimic the eyes and keep other attacking animals at the distance (from behind). Also, the spots may help the cubs to locate the mother in the tall grass.

• They are the national animals in four countries

They surely are iconic and represent courage and strength. So, four countries in eastern Asia use them as national animals – India, South Korea, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

• The stripes pattern of the tigers is unique.

It is similar to human fingerprints. And even if the fur is shaved off, you could still see the stripes on the tiger’s skin. There are no two tigers with the same stripe pattern.

• Their saliva is antiseptic.

The tigers use to lick their wounds, just to prevent an infection. They don’t actually know that is how it works, but it does, because their saliva is antiseptic.

• The tigers love water

Unlike cats, for example, tigers love water – they love to swim and play in the water. And they enjoy doing that for hours and hours. They can swim for many kilometers a day, and even kill in water.