What Is A Group Of Tigers Called? Do They Hunt With The Same Group?

Which terms do you use for a group of tigers?

You probably aren't aware of all the names used for a group of these magnificent animals, as they are rarely seen together in the wild! Although there are set terms for a group of tigers, they are quite solitary and prefer to live and hunt alone.

Wild cats, like lions and leopards, have been observed to live together in groups. A 'pride of lions' and a 'leap of leopards' are quite commonly used terms, as these animals have been observed to live together.

However, tigers do not follow in the footsteps of their cousins and are only seen together in a few instances. The habitat of a tiger, as well as its superior hunting instincts, eliminates the need for a group entirely, allowing it to live and hunt quite easily on its own.

If you enjoy this article, check out our other pages on are tigers endangered and Bengal tiger vs Siberian tiger.

Why is a group of tigers called an ambush or streak?

Though tigers are not usually found in groups, they have been given the names 'streak' or 'ambush'.

The collective noun used when referring to a group of any animal is usually a play on the most noticeable features or abilities of the animal in question. These fun terms can make you chuckle and are actually quite clever when you think about them.

Tigers are known to be quite skilled ambush hunters. They are silent killers and hunt by predicting the movements of their prey and catching them by surprise while they are off guard. This may be the reason why a group of tigers has been named so.

A group of tigers has also been named a 'streak', because of the distinct, black streaks on their bodies that make them so recognizable! Though tigers have beautiful black stripes on their bodies, a lesser-known fact is that these streaks are present on their skin as well!

Do tigers hunt in groups?

Did you know, tigresses hunt together with their cubs in order to teach them how to take down their own prey so that they are able to survive alone?

Otherwise, tigers are solitary animals and hunt alone. Tigers are apex predators and have no natural predators in the wild, except humans.

Though cubs may be preyed upon by the likes of hyenas and crocodiles, adult tigers are more than capable of bringing down huge animals on their own due to their sheer strength and power.

Being masters of ambush hunting, these large cats do not require the strength and security that a group provides. Hunting alone also ensures that they do not have to share their prey, which may otherwise cause fighting.

As tigers live in dense jungles, hunting in groups is not necessary as large groups of tigers would alert prey to their presence. The dense vegetation gives lone tigers enough cover to ambush their prey and take them by surprise, making hunting quite easy for them.

On the contrary, lions live together in a pride as it makes hunting easier for them in an open environment.

They raise their children together as well as defend their territory from intruders in large numbers. Differences in habitat make this unnecessary for tigers, who get along well on their own.

Does the group include both female and male tigers?

Most adult males lead solitary lives in the wild, though they do come together at times to share their prey and while mating with females.

Most tiger groups consist of a mother and her cubs, though they may be joined by other tigers at times to socialize.

Males and females may live together for a brief period of time during the breeding season, when the tiger may go out to hunt and leave the tigress to look after the cubs.

After the tiger leaves, the cubs stay with the tigress, who teaches them how to hunt animals before they become old enough to live on their own. Though the male tiger leaves his mate and cubs, he still provides protection for them as long as they remain in his territory.

As tigers can mate with several tigresses during a single breeding season, they may have several families living under their protection.

How many tigers form a group?

Tigers rarely form groups, and the most common groups consist of a tigress, her cubs, and occasionally their father.

A tiger can give birth to two to four cubs on average, so a group of tigers may contain anywhere between three to six of these wild cats. Though cubs are weaned off their mother's milk at around six months old, they still remain dependent on the meat she brings to them.

They leave their mothers around the age of 24-36 months after successfully learning to hunt and survive on their own in the wild.

Does the group have a leader?

Male tigers may be seen as the leader of their territory, in which other tigers (such as tigresses and their cubs) may be present.

As tigers do not live in groups, the concept of leaders does not exist among them. Tigers live and hunt on their own, with tigresses living with their cubs.

In a tigress group, it can be assumed that the mother takes on the role of leader, as she teaches her cubs how to hunt and procures meat for them until they are able to do so for themselves.

Do tigers attack each other within a group?

Tigers are powerful and strong-willed creatures, which is why they do not do well in a group.

Tigers are able to bring large prey such as buffaloes, moose, and even elephant calves down on their own, and they do not need a group to help them hunt. Hunting in groups would actually make it more difficult to procure prey, as their silent ambush strategy would not work in large numbers.

It would also cause conflict over the division of the prey, as tigers are very hearty eaters. Hence, tigers thrive alone and are rarely seen in groups.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'What is a group of tigers called?' then why not take a look at 'Do tigers have striped skin?' or 'Bengal tiger facts'.