23/01/2025
‘Big Cats’ – which normally include Tigers, Lions, Jaguars, Cougars (‘Mountain Lion’/ ‘Puma’) Leopards, Snow Leopards, and Cheetahs – are found in the Americas, Africa, Asia and parts of the Middle East. Countries like India and Africa have multiple ‘Big Cats,’ like Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, and Cheetahs.
Tiger (ව්යාඝ්රයා) – Tigers are native to Asia and can be found in countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Russia. The Tiger is the largest of all ‘Big Cats’ and can weigh between 140-300 Kg, although sizes vary from region to region. For instance, Siberian and Bengal Tigers are known to be larger than Sumatran Tigers. The global Tiger population is between 4500-5500.
Lion (සිංහයා) – Most lions are found in Africa, but there’s a small Asiatic Lion population at Gir National Park in India. Lions are the 2nd largest ‘Big Cat’ and can weigh between 150-250 Kg. The global Lion population is estimated to be around 23,000.
Jaguar (ජගුවර්) – Jaguars are the 3rd largest ‘Big Cat’ – on average, they weigh between 65-100 Kg, although larger specimens have been recorded. Jaguars are only found in Central and South America. Nearly 50% of the global Jaguar population lives in Brazil. The global Jaguar population is estimated to be around 173,000.
Cougar (කූගර්) – Also known as the ‘Mountain Lion’ or ‘Puma,’ Cougars are the 4th largest ‘Big Cat.’ Cougars weigh between 30-90 Kg and are found in North, Central, and South America. The global Cougar population is estimated to be around 50,000.
Leopard (කොටියා) – Leopards are found in Africa and Asia. On average, they weigh between 30-90 Kg. The smallest leopard is the ‘Arabian Leopard’ – even grown males weigh no more than 40 Kg. On the other hand, larger subspecies – like the Persian Leopard, African Leopard, and Sri Lankan Leopard – can weigh up to 80 Kg or more. The global Leopard population is estimated to be around 200,000.
Snow Leopard (හිම කොටියා) – Found in the mountains of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Snow Leopards weigh between 20-55 Kg. Even though they have the word ‘leopard’ in their name, Snow Leopards are not classified as common leopards. In fact, Snow Leopards are more closely related to Tigers than Leopards. The global Snow Leopard population is between 4000-6500.
Cheetah (චීටා) – Most Cheetahs are found in Africa, but there’s a small population of Asiatic Cheetahs in Iran. Cheetahs are the smallest of all ‘Big Cats’ and can weigh between 20-72 Kg. The global Cheetah population is estimated to be around 6500.
