100 years ago there were 8 different kinds of

tigers (subspecies) - there were over 100,000

wild tigers in the world. Today, there are only 5

tiger subspecies left and there are fewer than

7,000 wild tigers in the world. The main threats

to tigers are poaching, loss of habitat, and

population fragmentation.

Not only is tiger a beautiful animal but it is also

the indicator of the forest's health. Saving the tiger

means we save the forest since tiger cannot live in

places where trees have vanished and in turn secure

food and water for all. If we make sure tigers live,

we have to make sure that deer, antelope and all

other animals that the tiger eats (its prey base) live.

Also forests catch and help store rainwater and protect

soils. In this way we protect our rivers and recharge

groundwater sources. Areas with less trees lead to

floods, killing people and destroying homes. It takes

away the precious soil, leaving behind a wasteland.

The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their

ability to store water. By destroying the tiger's home,

we not only harm tigers, but also ourselves.

The tiger, one of the most magnificent animals in the world,

is also one of the most endangered. A cat of beauty, strength,

and majesty, the tiger is master of all and subject to none --

except humans.

The tiger thus becomes the symbol for the protection of all

species on our earth since it is at the top of the food chain.

This is why we sometimes call the tiger, an apex predator, an

indicator of our ecosystem's health .

Local institutions and people Scientists who were closely

involved in managing tigers at the local level pointed out an

important lesson more than a decade ago: unless local

community needs are met, conservation of the tiger will not

succeed and protected areas will perish.

Conservation of tiger habitat and of prey In many areas

peripheral to tiger habitat, grazing lands for livestock have

been converted to crops or degraded by excessive use; livestock

is of poor quality and of poor productivity; wood for fuel and

building has been exhausted; and sources of income are limited.

"Do not cut down the forest with its tigers and do not

vanish the tigers from the forest.

The tiger perishes without the forest, and the forest

perishes without its tigers.

Therefore the tiger should stand guard over the forest

and the forest should protect all its tigers".

The Tiger is endangered because it is

poached for its body parts to cater to

an illegal market. Another reason is

habitat loss due to depletion of forest

cover interference of humans and

encroachment of forest land by people

causing fragmentation. At the turn of

the century, there were almost

reportedly 40,000 tigers in India, but

now only around 4,000 remain in the

wild.

Today, deforestation and urbanization have a major impact on

the Bengal Tiger population. Tigers are forced to move out from their

natural habitats and as a result can no longer easily hunt food.

Bengal Tigers form the largest subspecies of tigers in the world. Most

commonly found in India and Bangladesh, they are the ‘national

animal’ of both these countries. Living in grasslands and in rainforests,

they can weight up to 220kg. The Bengal Tiger population is very

fragile today: they have nearly been driven to extinction and numerous

projects are now in place to preserve the population.

Although they do not typically hunt humans, they may

do so in cases of extreme hunger.

These lovely tigers were larger in number only a few decades ago, and were

sometimes called north China tigers as they could also be found in north China, in

addition to Mongolia and Korea. Then they started getting fewer to the extent

where one could no longer find them in south Korea, and their population has

become very rare in China (a couple dozen) and Mongolia.

They kept decreasing in size until reaching only a fewer dozens (less than 50) in the

mid 20th century. It was then that efforts were taken in order to save them from

extinction. They are now heavily protected and mostly kept in zoos where a close

eye can kept on them. Luckily, over five hundred tigers can be accounted for

nowadays, but still, this is considered a very low number (close to the Sumatran

tiger population).

One particularly controversial incident was the complete loss

of the Bengal Tiger population in the ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’

as a result of hunting.

Experts estimate that the south China tiger population does not exceed two to three

dozens only! This has earned it a ranking between the world’s top 10 animals that

are on the verge of extinction � pretty sad.What has mainly contributed to the reduction of the South Chinese tiger population

is the amount of illegal hunting that has taken place in these southern forests, in

addition to the reduction in the number of prey it can hunt (again, mostly due to

humans).

Unethical Breeding

Due to their larger size and the unique

white colour zoos, circuses and private

owners have turned the breeding and

rearing of white tigers into big

business. In the wild white tigers are

extremely rare due to the scarcity and

low probability of a tiger inheriting

both recessive genes (chances are 1 in

10,000) but in captivity breeders are

taking white tigers and breeding them

with each other. Father with

daughter, brother with sister etc.

Why do they keep inbreeding ?The answer of course is related to money. White tigers are a part of the

ever expanding exotic animals trade which has grown to become a multi

million dollar business and is second only to the illegal drug trade

business. Zoo’s, circuses and private owners openly admit that the

white tiger serves as a great attraction for visitors increasing visitors

and of course revenues. A white tiger can sell for as much as $100,000

so if you already own a couple why not breed them create some cubs

and sell them off for some extra profit.

Establishments and individuals who claim their trying to save or keep the species alive are simply manipulating the truth to keep their unethical

activities alive. Breeding of white tigers is nothing short of evil and benefits the tiger species in no way what so ever.