Tigers climb trees to avoid prey

Keep reading for more interesting information about tigers facts and to know why tigers climb trees

In zoos and shows, tigers may sometimes go up the trunk of a tree momentarily for food. In the wild, they may climb trees to avoid hunting dogs or to chase prey. 

Cubs:

Tiger cubs willingly climb trees for about the first sixteen months of life and young tigers have been sighted following langur monkeys up into the trees in an effort to secure a feed. But after this age their increasing weight makes both ascent and descent difficult, and few tree branches have the needed strength to hold their weight.

Also see elephant facts

Adults:

Adults seldom climb, but are quite capable of doing so; they may do this if being chased by dogs or when after prey. There have been occasions of men climbing trees to escape an attacking tiger, only to be killed when the tiger followed them up. 

This does not mean tigers are willing or efficient climbers. On the contrary, they are not. The white Bengal and Amur tigers shown here are doing something quite unusual for tigers of their age.

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