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Siberian Tiger

Siberian tiger model displayed in a glass case in the Museum's Hall of Biodiversity. © D. Finnin/AMNH

Tigers are audacious carnivores. They bring down large animals with a flying tackle, forcing their canines into the victim's throat or spine. But for all their stealth and power, tigers are successful hunters only about 10 percent of the time.

Researchers now use "camera traps"—cameras linked to a beam-triggering mechanism—to estimate tiger populations. This is effective for counting tigers because every tiger has a unique pattern of stripes, which allows individuals to be identified.