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| Photo courtesy of bigcatrescue.org |
It is estimated there are only 3,200 tigers left in the wild today. Of these, there are only 1,000 breeding females.
The main threats to the wild tiger population are habitat destruction and poaching.
Tiger habitat has decreased by 93% in the last 100 years.
Tigers are generally solitary creatures, only coming together to mate. It is estimated that a male tiger’s home range is between 7-58 square miles, and the female’s home range is between 4-20 square miles.
A female tiger will usually have anywhere from 2-4 cubs in a litter, though there may be as few as 1 and as many as 6. Females will generally have a litter every 2 to 2.5 years, though some may wait as long as 3 to 4 years. The cubs are very vulnerable and mortality rate is at least 50%. So, if a female gives birth to a litter of 2 cubs, the odds are that only one will survive.
In order to conserve and grow the population of tigers in the wild a massive project has been undertaken that has created wildlife reserves in the tiger’s natural range. Many conservationist groups have come together to encourage local inhabitants to protect their tigers and to educate the world with the problems wild tigers are facing. Many locals still believe in using tiger parts for medicine and tribal rituals. Some simply kill them in order to sell the skins and parts for profit, and others feel that they or their livestock are threatened. With the help of private and public funding conservationists have been able to educate the people and create the reserves of land that the tigers now inhabit.
There is still more that needs to be done. In India, right now, a freeway is being built that is proposed to go directly through a tiger reserve. It is this sort of encroachment that began the decline of the wild tigers. People at that time did not understand the danger, but as we have become more and more educated we can no longer claim ignorance. We must stand together to protect what little land is left for our wild tigers. We are their only hope.
To help, please check out any of the following websites:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ and search for Cause an Uproar.
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