Endangered Tiger
With three subspecies of the tiger family already extinct, one has to wonder: is there any hope for the endangered tiger? The remaining six subspecies are already showing alarming decreases in their populations for various reasons, and it raises the question as to how the situation can be reversed.
Over the past 100 years, the Bali, the Caspian and the Java tigers have been erased from the world’s checklist of wildlife. Once vital links in the delicate balance of the ecosystems in which they lived, they are now reduced simply to names, pictures and facts. Hunting has always been the biggest threat to tigers, having few predators other than humans, and many of the now extinct tigers were victims of the harvesting for fur, body parts and entertainment. The endangered tiger of today still faces this danger, as these activities continue to occur illegally.
The remaining six cat species have been placed on the endangered tiger list, although some are at more risk than others. In fact, Sumatran tigers are included in the most threatened species in the recently released “9 to Watch in 2009” list issued by the World Wildlife Federation, ranked 4th on the list. Numbering fewer than 500 in the wild, the Sumatran tiger lives in Indonesia, the same region where the Java and Balinese once roamed.
So what is making the endangered tiger such a target for extinction? Natural habitats of dense forests are becoming smaller and smaller as human need for the land and resources grows. Another direct result of the decreasing forests is the fact that tigers are not successfully breeding. Typically, tigers have a vast range of territory to seek out mates; with limited range, these cats are now inbreeding, creating stillborn and genetically inferior cubs. For an endangered tiger, breeding healthy new generations is a key component. Hunting has been responsible for many tiger deaths as well. Killed for their fur, their body parts and for entertainment purposes, it is no wonder that the endangered tiger suffers the plight it does.
So is there hope for the endangered tiger? Many conservationist groups have been diligently working toward the goal of rebuilding the tiger population. Expanding the areas of wildlife refuges, devising alternatives to forest resources to limit deforestation, imposing stricter penalties on illegal poaching and the careful monitoring of existing tiger populations are all steps in place to help the endangered tiger rebound.
There are positive actions being taken for the survival of the endangered tiger. With stringent laws and efforts to preserve the tiger species, there is hope that this magnificent animal will endure to fascinate and captivate future generations of humans who will appreciate the struggle of the endangered tiger.