There’s no doubt that tigers are one of the most majestic animals in the world. But what you may not know is that they’re also one of the most endangered.
Tigers are currently listed as an endangered species, and their population continues to decline at an alarming rate.
So what’s causing this?
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the truth behind the declining tiger population, and explore some of the possible reasons for their endangerment.
What is an Endangered Species?
An endangered species is a population of an animal or plant that is at risk of becoming extinct. This means that the species may soon no longer exist in the wild, and may only be found in zoos or other captive populations.
There are many reasons why a species may become endangered, but some of the most common include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal wildlife trade.
The IUCN Red List is a comprehensive global database of threatened and extinct species. It was created in 1964 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and is considered to be the most authoritative source of information on endangered species.
The IUCN Red List evaluates the conservation status of species on a scale from “least concern” to “extinct in the wild.” Tigers are currently listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
This means that they are at a high risk of becoming extinct in the wild, and their population is continuing to decline.
Why Are Tigers Endangered?
There are several reasons why tigers may be endangered, but the three main contributing factors are habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal wildlife trade.
Habitat loss is often caused by deforestation or other types of development. This can lead to a loss of suitable habitat for tigers, and can also fragment their populations.
This means that tigers may have difficulty finding mates, and their populations can become isolated from one another.
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when humans and tigers come into contact with each other, often leading to the death of the tiger. This can happen when tigers prey on livestock, or when they come into conflict with humans who are trying to protect their property.
Illegal wildlife trade is a major problem for many endangered species, and tigers are no exception. Tigers are often poached for their body parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Their bones, skin, and other body parts are highly valued, and this has led to a decline in their population.
How many Tigers are Left?
There are an estimated 3890 tigers left in the wild.
Until recently their population was declining, the tiger population fell from over 30,000 in the 1970’s to around 3000 in 2010. At this rate, tigers could become extinct in the wild within the next few decades.
This is a major problem, and it’s important that we take action to protect these magnificent animals.
What Tiger subspecies is the closest to extinction?
The Sumatran tiger is an endangered subspecies of tiger, with an estimated population of just over 400 individuals. This is due to a combination of factors, including habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade.
The Bengal Tiger is the most common subspecies of tiger, with an estimated population of around 3000 individuals. While this is still a decline from their historical numbers, they are not as close to extinction as the Sumatran tiger.
The Bengal tiger is the national animal of India and Bangladesh.
The Malayan Tiger is a rare animal that can be found only in the southern sections of the Malay Peninsula, which is located in Southeast Asia. The distinction between a subspecies and a subspecies was made in 2004 when genetic testing revealed variation in DNA sequences from the Indochinese subspecies. There are believed to be only 300 left in the wild.
The Siberian Tiger is the most widespread species of tigers, residing throughout eastern Siberia’s Amur-Ussuri region with the exception of a few who reside in China’s Tiger Reserve. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimated that there were around 400 Siberians Tigers in 2014. Siberians tigers have thicker coats and paler hues to better
Indochinese Tigers are found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. It prefers mountainous forests and is rarely sighted in the wild. Indochinese tigers’ population is difficult to determine due to their anti-social behavior, but the most up-to-date accurate estimate was done in 2007. There were an estimated 350-410 individuals living in the wild.
The South China Tiger is the most endangered subspecies of tiger and one of the world’s ten most threatened species. Despite unconfirmed rumors from unreliable sources, and some evidence of tracks, there have been no verified wild sightings of these tigers for over 25 years. This has led experts to consider it “functionally extinct,” with the entire known population of captive tigers numbering just over 100 individuals.
The three known extinct subspecies of tigers are:
Bali Tiger
The last of the species was killed over a century later on Bali in September 1937, when authorities poisoned the remaining individuals on the island. Though there have been reports of sightings throughout history, none of them have been confirmed.
Caspian Tiger
The Caspian tiger was last seen in the wild in Central Asia’s Takla-Makan desert, Xinjiang Province, and had been recorded up until the early 1970s. The Caspian tiger used to live in Chinese and Russian Turkestan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey.
Javan Tiger
This subspecies was restricted to Java and has been documented until the mid-1970s. The Javan Tiger became extinct in the Mt. Betiri region after 1979. In 1990, an expedition to Mount Halimun Salak National Park produced no definitive, direct proof for the continued existence of tigers.
The tiger is one of the most iconic animals in the world, and it is heartbreaking to think that they may soon be gone forever. We must take action to protect these animals, or we will lose them forever.
What Can We Do To Help?
Although the situation may seem dire, there is still hope for tigers. There are many organizations and individuals working to protect them, and you can help too!
You can support tiger conservation efforts by donating to organizations like the World Wildlife Fund or Panthera.
You can also help by spreading awareness about the plight of tigers, and encouraging others to support conservation efforts.
Together, we can make a difference for these amazing animals.
List of Tiger Facts
- Tigers are the largest felines in the world.
- There are six tiger subspecies, three of which are extinct.
- Tigers can live up to 20 years in the wild.
- Tigers can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 650 pounds.
- Tigers are apex predators and have no natural enemies aside from humans.
- Tigers are native to Asia and can be found in countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Russia.
- The main reason tigers are endangered is because of habitat loss and fragmentation. Other reasons include prey depletion, conflict with humans, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade.
- Tiger populations have declined by over 95% since the early 20th century.
- There are estimated to be as few as 3800 tigers left in the wild.