Panthera Tigris Tigris - Endangered Species


Tigers are admired for their strength and beauty and thrive in conditions from wet, humid jungle to icy mountain forests; as long as they have a chance to do what they do best.

Less than 7,500 wild tigers remain. The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the largest and most numerous of the 5 remaining species.

•  Siberian or Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)
•  Sumatran tiger(Panthera tigris sumatrae)
•  South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)
•  Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)

Extinct (within the last 70 years!)

•  Bali tiger (Panthera tigris balica)
•  Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaicus)
•  Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgat)

Several reserves in India are supposed to protect the Tiger. Unfortunately a mix of ruthless poaching (valued at up to $50,000 dead!), habitat pressures (farming, traffic, water) and incompetence & corruption, amongst a few of those charged with the welfare of India's wild heritage, has left Tiger numbers even lower than expected.

Sightings at key reserves such as Sariska and Ranthambhore are down and there are fears that India's population may now have fallen below a viable level. The government is now looking at increasing both the number of reserves and staffing levels

Find out more at the following links:

www.worldwildlife.org - Tigers
www.worldwildlife.org - Endanged Species
www.infochangeindia.org - Environment
www.infochangeindia.org - Index
www.wpsi-india.org