Possibly as few as 3,200 left in the wild
Tigers are the largest of all the Asian big cats, at the top the food chain, and are one of the most culturally important and beautiful animals on this planet. However, they are also among the most vulnerable and threatened species on Earth.
For over a million years, the “King of the Jungle” lorded over a territory stretching from eastern Turkey to the Russian Far East, with its home extending northward to Siberia and southward into Bali. But by the end of the last century, the Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers were extinct. Tragically, the remaining six subspecies risk the same fate as the Javan and Caspian because of illegal wildlife trade, poaching, and conflict with people.
If we do not respond to the plight of wild tigers and the needs of the communities that share their home with tigers—most of which is outside protected wildlife areas – we will witness the loss of one of the world’s most irreplaceable natural wonders of our lifetime.
Facts & Figures
- Tigers are found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia (Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Russia (Far East), Thailand and Vietnam. View map
- The 6 living subspecies of tigers are: Amur, Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, South China and Sumatran.
- The Bali, Caspian and Javan tiger subspecies have all become extinct.
- Wild tiger numbers have fallen by about 95% over the past 100 years.
- Tigers survive in 40% less area than they occupied a decade ago.
For over a million years, the “King of the Jungle” lorded over a territory stretching from eastern Turkey to the Russian Far East, with its home extending northward to Siberia and southward into Bali. But by the end of the last century, the Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers were extinct. Tragically, the remaining six subspecies risk the same fate as the Javan and Caspian because of illegal wildlife trade, poaching, and conflict with people.
If we do not respond to the plight of wild tigers and the needs of the communities that share their home with tigers—most of which is outside protected wildlife areas – we will witness the loss of one of the world’s most irreplaceable natural wonders of our lifetime.
Subspecies
Three tiger subspecies - the Bali, Javan, and Caspian - have become extinct in the past 70 years. The six remaining subspecies - Amur, Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, South China, and Sumatran - live only in Asia, and all are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
Amur (Siberian) Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris altaica
IUCN Listing: Endangered
Habitat: Coniferous, scrub oak and birch woodlands
Location: Primarily eastern Russia, with a few found in northeastern China and northern North Korea
Interesting Fact: In the 1940s the Amur tiger was on the brink of extinction, with no more than 40 tigers remaining in the wild. Thanks to vigorous anti-poaching and other conservation efforts by the Russians with support from many partners, including WWF, the Amur tiger population recovered and has remained stable throughout the last decade.
Bengal (Indian) Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris
IUCN Listing: Endangered
Habitat: Dry and wet deciduous forests, grassland and temperate forests, mangrove forests
Location: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal. India is home to the largest population.
Interesting Fact: Some Bengal tigers are cream or white in color instead of orange, due to a recessive gene for this coloration. These "white" tigers are rarely found in the wild.
Indochinese Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris corbetti
IUCN Listing: Endangered
Habitat: Remote forests in hilly to mountainous terrain, much of which lies along the borders between countries
Location: Mainly in Thailand, but also found in Myanmar, southern China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and peninsular Malaysia
Interesting Fact: Access to the areas where Indochinese tigers live is often restricted, and biologists have only recently been granted limited permits for field surveys. As a result, relatively little is known about the status of these tigers in the wild.
Malayan Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris jacksoni
IUCN Listing: Endangered
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Location: Southern tip of Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia
Interesting Fact: The Malayan tiger was only identified as being a separate subspecies from the Indochinese tiger in 2004. It is very similar to the Indochinese tiger, but is smaller in size.
South China Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris amoyensis
IUCN Listing: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Montane sub-tropical evergreen forest
Location: Central and eastern China
Interesting Fact: It is estimated that the South China tiger is functionally extinct. Currently 47 South China tigers live in 18 zoos, all in China. If there are any South China tigers in the wild, these few individuals would be found in southeast China, close to provincial borders.
Sumatran Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris sumatrae
IUCN Listing: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Montane forests, the remaining blocks of the island's lowland forest, peat swamps, and freshwater swamp forests
Location: Exclusively on the Indonesian island of Sumatra
Interesting Fact: Sumatran tigers are protected by law in Indonesia, with tough provisions for jail time and steep fines. Despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, including law enforcement and anti-poaching capacity, a substantial market remains in Sumatra for tiger parts and products.
By http://www.worldwildlife.org
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