Wild tigers are the largest of all Asian big cats. They are solitary animals who like to have their own individual territory, with the size depending on the prey available. They mark their territory with urine, feces, scratches and scrapes or by using their vocals to warn other intruders off. They typically hunt alone and stalk their prey waiting for the perfect moment to pounce, eating up to 80 pounds of meat at one time. They can sprint up to 60kph and jump up to 10 feet making them excellent hunters with their 4 inches claws that help them to grab onto their prey and hold them down. They also love to swim and play in the water. Female tigers reach sexual maturity at 3 or 4 years of age and a male a little later at 4 or 5. They average 2 to 4 cubs every year but could have up to 7 cubs a litter. When the cubs are born they are born blind and helpless and around half of all cubs won't live beyond the age of 2. The mother must leave her cubs to go and hunt, leaving the babies alone and vulnerable. At just 8 weeks old the cubs are ready to start hunting and will go on hunting expeditions with their mother until they reach 2 years old at which point they will leave to live their solitary life. The mother may then have another litter but if all the cubs die in one litter the mother can have another litter within 5 months. A tiger can mate with any other big cat and have been known to mate with lions. If a male tiger impregnates a female lion they have a hybrid born animal known as a Tigon and if a male lion mates with a female tiger they have a Liger. There are currently more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild. Wild tiger numbers have been declining for a century and due to the threats that they face.