The Global Wild Tiger Population

The prices of tiger pelts continue to go on the rise because “as the destruction of tigers decrease supply, the price of their parts rises further, creating even greater incentives for poachers to kill the remaining animals” (Linden). These innocent animals are in danger in both unsecure and secure places. Poachers will not hesitate to go into zoos and kill an animal. Recently, zoo veterinarian Eric Miller talked about an incident that happened in France. Miller said, “we were shocked last week by the news that a white rhinoceros was killed when poachers entered Thoiry Zoo” (“A Critical Time for Saving Rhino Species”). The prolonged war against poaching is not promising for the future of some animal species. Animals are being driven to endangerment and even close to extinction. A recent extinction in the wild happens to be the white rhino. In 1960 white rhinos numbered more than 2000, but now they are extinct in the wild (Miller). The few white rhinos that are alive, in the world, are kept in areas such as zoos.

     Tigers are getting more and more scarce. In the world today, there are about 12 Javan tigers still alive, and less than 110 Siberian tigers. Their only needs in life are water, food, and shade, so this is definitely not the cause of their near extinction. The number of tigers in the world is decreasing because of hunters that like the fur. Tigers are rarely shot for attacking humans, for they

When Pi and Ravi’s father was telling them about staying away from tigers he said “Tigers are very dangerous. I want you to understand that you are never—under any circumstances—to touch a tiger, to pet a tiger, to put your hands through the bars of a cage, even to get close to a cage. Is that clear?” (37) This evidence indicates that

Figure 1: Historic and current geographic distributions of the eight subspecies of tiger. The Isthamus of Kra is the boundary that separates

Thesis statement: Grizzly bears should be taken off of the endangered species list because 1) they have meat all of the requirements, 2) States will be in charge of monitoring the bears, and 3) as long as the state monitor the population

(WWF) and other organizations are coming together with the russian government to make protected areas for other tigers and animals in the family. Organizations and educational

The National Wildlife Institute has published “Conservation Under the Endangered Species Act: A Promise Broken”. Their critique of the Act includes questioning the programs undertaken as a result of the Act have played sufficient roles in the recovery of species that were delisted, as well as questioning the allocation of funding to programs intended to aid listed species.

One day Siberias decided to make more animals for Africa. She had created gemsboks, antelope, cows, wildebeests, and other horse like creatures. She even decided to create some sea creatures for her lakes. Siberias’ most proved new animals were her zebras, giraffes, and pufferfish. Siberias decreed that the tigers and other big cats were allowed to eat any animal they wanted except for her new most prised possessions. If they did, there would be terrible consequences.

It is for these threats that the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve was created in 1973, and later designated as the Sundarban Forest Reserve in 1978. It now covers the whole of the Sundarbans, aimed towards managing it in a sustainable way. Armed forest staff patrol in motorboats and launches, protecting the reserve from poachers and theft of forest products such as the valuable honey and wax that is limited for collecting to only two and a half months a year, while seminars, workshops and awareness camps are conducted frequently inside the park to educate people and tourists on eco-conservation and eco-development. By educating people, there will be a greater understanding and cooperation between local villagers and authorities, so locals can benefit from the surrounding ecosystem while still protecting the environment and not completely exploiting it.

The tiger and Trush are assimilated through their alienated habitats, varied physical strengths, and through their physical appearance: viewed all

Tiger bones are supposed to cure arthritis, while pangolin and turtle shells are other classic remedies. Even the United State has seen the use of these treatments up close. Surprisingly, traces of tiger bone in medicine can be found in about 40% of small medicine stores (Congressional). However, not all consumers of a poached animals are seeking a healthier lifestyle. Some of the younger upperclass Chinese use tiger bone in products such as shampoo, wine, and soup as a declaration of their wealth. They buy expensive these products simply because they can afford to buy such expensive products. This certainly makes a statement, seeing that the bones of a Tiger can cost up to $7,000 in US dollars (Endangered). Nevertheless, the flaunting of status shouldn’t justify the murder of these elegant creatures. In the article “Endangered and in demand” the author explains:

The Asian Tigers were most noted for their rise to power in the 1960-1980s, and were able to develop their

1. From reading this summary of tiger ecology, what aspects of the tiger’s environment need to be recreated in a zoo environment?

To make matters even more severe than they already are, the Sumatran tiger is “critically-endangered,” and this lumber operation was illegal (Mongabay). Is the wood harvested from that forest worth risking eliminating the last of the 450 Sumatran tigers on earth (Mongabay)?

The main aim of Project Tiger has been to aid and facilitate the breeding of tigers within a safe environment and then transport these tigers further afield so that the world’s population can be upped. Project Tiger has also established the Tiger Protection Force with the aim of catching poachers and stopping the killing. This initiative has been instrumental in relocating about 200 000 villagers in the rural areas so that they are no longer living within the natural habitat of the tigers. This reduces the risk of tiger attacks on humans (which often leads to the killing of the tiger for the safety of the villagers) (Tigers.org)