By Big Cat Photography
Tigers are the largest of all the big cats, at the top the food chain, and are one of the most culturally important and beautiful animals on this planet. However, they are also among the most vulnerable and threatened species on Earth. The stark facts are that 100 years ago there were around 100,000 tigers living in their natural wild environment made up of 8 sub-species. The latest estimate is that only 3,200 wild tigers remain and 3 of those sub species are now extinct. They are the hard facts of the desperate decline in the wild numbers of one of the world’s most iconic animals.
photo courtesy of Big Cat Photography
WHY ARE TIGERS DECLINING?
photo courtesy of Big Cat Photography
Poaching And Illegal Trade
For over 1,000 years, tigers have been hunted for their parts which are used as status symbols, decorative items such as wall and floor coverings, gifts, and for use in traditional Asian medicines. Hunting for sport probably caused the greatest decline in tiger populations up until the
1930s. In the early 1990s, it became evident that trade in tiger bone for traditional medicines threatened to drive tigers to extinction in the wild. Thankfully the international trade in tiger parts is now illegal, however poaching persistently feeds consumer demand. This poaching is the largest immediate threat to the species worldwide, with 1 tiger being poached every week of the year somewhere in Asia.
For over 1,000 years, tigers have been hunted for their parts which are used as status symbols, decorative items such as wall and floor coverings, gifts, and for use in traditional Asian medicines. Hunting for sport probably caused the greatest decline in tiger populations up until the
1930s. In the early 1990s, it became evident that trade in tiger bone for traditional medicines threatened to drive tigers to extinction in the wild. Thankfully the international trade in tiger parts is now illegal, however poaching persistently feeds consumer demand. This poaching is the largest immediate threat to the species worldwide, with 1 tiger being poached every week of the year somewhere in Asia.
Habitat and Prey Loss
photo by Big Cat Photography
Less than a hundred years ago, tigers prowled the forests of Eastern Turkey and the Caspian Region of Western Asia, across to the Indian sub-continent, China, and Indochina, south to Indonesia, and north to the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East. But growing human populations, have both contracted and fragmented the tigers former range. Deforestation, especially in Indonesia, is driving the remaining few tigers into small, scattered areas of remaining habitat.
Tigers live in some of the most diverse places on Earth from the Russian Far East where the temperature can be as low as minus 50 degrees to the steamy jungles of South East Asia where it can be as hot as plus 50 degrees. Tigers need large territories to survive, so reduced habitat means that fewer tigers can survive in the wild. In addition, isolated populations are more susceptible to inbreeding. Along with habitat loss, tigers have suffered from severe loss of natural prey populations such as deer, goats, sheep, and pigs. Large-scale habitat destruction and reduction of prey populations are the major long-term threats to the continued existence of tigers in the wild.
Tigers live in some of the most diverse places on Earth from the Russian Far East where the temperature can be as low as minus 50 degrees to the steamy jungles of South East Asia where it can be as hot as plus 50 degrees. Tigers need large territories to survive, so reduced habitat means that fewer tigers can survive in the wild. In addition, isolated populations are more susceptible to inbreeding. Along with habitat loss, tigers have suffered from severe loss of natural prey populations such as deer, goats, sheep, and pigs. Large-scale habitat destruction and reduction of prey populations are the major long-term threats to the continued existence of tigers in the wild.
Conflict With Humans
As tigers continue to lose their habitat and prey species, they are increasingly coming into conflict with humans as they attack domestic animals--and sometimes people. In retaliation, tigers are often killed by authorities, angry villagers, farmers or else captured and kept in zoos.
So what hope is there for the future?
We can still save the tiger – in 1940 there were believed to be fewer than 40 Amur Tigers in the far East of Russia but today there are 400. This proves with the right conservation efforts, things can change.
Conservation charities across the world (WWF, 21st Century Tiger, Save the Tiger Fund and many more) are doing fantastic work in the following areas
Fact – There are more Tigers privately owned in the USA than remain in the wild…………..and only 6% of the USA’s tiger population resides in zoo’s or recognised establishments.
Fact – The wildlife trade is the 3rd largest illegal trade in the world behind drugs and arms
Fact – Indonesia, home to the Sumatran tiger, had the fastest rate of deforestation in the world between the years 2000-2005 with an area of forest equivalent to 300 football pitches destroyed every HOUR
Fact - Guilin - one of China's main tourist cities - is home to the world's biggest single collection of tigers. Yet it is never included on foreigners' tour itineraries. For here, 1,500 captive tigers - around half as many as there are thought to be remaining in the wild - live out miserable lives in squalid conditions in a Tiger farm
Main sources: http://www.21stcenturytiger.org and http://www.worldwildlife.org
Livehonestly.com thanks Big Cat Photography for this article and for the use of the gorgeous tiger images. Contact Big Cat Photography to learn more or to purchase beautiful prints.
As tigers continue to lose their habitat and prey species, they are increasingly coming into conflict with humans as they attack domestic animals--and sometimes people. In retaliation, tigers are often killed by authorities, angry villagers, farmers or else captured and kept in zoos.
So what hope is there for the future?
We can still save the tiger – in 1940 there were believed to be fewer than 40 Amur Tigers in the far East of Russia but today there are 400. This proves with the right conservation efforts, things can change.
Conservation charities across the world (WWF, 21st Century Tiger, Save the Tiger Fund and many more) are doing fantastic work in the following areas
- Monitoring tiger populations to improve tiger management and conservation
- Stopping tiger trade – by raising awareness and getting worldwide government support
- Strengthening anti-poaching efforts
- Addressing human-tiger conflict
- Securing tiger habitats
- Supporting local conservationists
- Focusing on the bigger picture such as policies and sustainable forestry
Fact – There are more Tigers privately owned in the USA than remain in the wild…………..and only 6% of the USA’s tiger population resides in zoo’s or recognised establishments.
Fact – The wildlife trade is the 3rd largest illegal trade in the world behind drugs and arms
Fact – Indonesia, home to the Sumatran tiger, had the fastest rate of deforestation in the world between the years 2000-2005 with an area of forest equivalent to 300 football pitches destroyed every HOUR
Fact - Guilin - one of China's main tourist cities - is home to the world's biggest single collection of tigers. Yet it is never included on foreigners' tour itineraries. For here, 1,500 captive tigers - around half as many as there are thought to be remaining in the wild - live out miserable lives in squalid conditions in a Tiger farm
Main sources: http://www.21stcenturytiger.org and http://www.worldwildlife.org
Livehonestly.com thanks Big Cat Photography for this article and for the use of the gorgeous tiger images. Contact Big Cat Photography to learn more or to purchase beautiful prints.
