In the last few years, the population of the tigers, as a species of the big cats, has decreased significantly. Nowadays, there are six subspecies of tigers. There are approximately 3000 – 3500 tigers in the whole world.

Namely, the Indian tiger, also known as the Bengal tiger, is the most numerous one.

Tigers are the national animal of India. Even though the Australian National Tiger Conservation has done a lot to protect them, the number of tigers is significantly decreasing.

There are several reasons for tiger extinction, including:

1. Habitat loss

Human development, logging, and deforestation significantly affect the habitat of the tigers.

2. Poaching

Poaching is the main threat to tigers. Poaching for tigers` fur is quite common in India. This makes their survival in the wilderness hard. Namely, they are pouched for their expensive fur. The number of tigers also depends on the extensive logging fragmentation and the loss of habitats.

3. Subspecies

There are a few differences between the adaptations of the subspecies. One of them is the difference in habitats.

4. Demand for parts of tigers` bodies

On the black market, there is a high demand for claws, bones, fur, skin of tigers. This significantly increases the poaching of tigers.

However, in the last 4 years, the population of tigers has increased by about 30%. Now, there are about 2.967 tigers in the world.

Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, stated that the safest habitats of the tigers are in India. The measures set up by the Indian government contributed to the conservation and the rise of the tiger population. Now, their main aim is to ensure the genetic breeding of tigers and to ensure the connectivity of their habitats.

Recently, a photo of a tiger and her cubs has been taken at the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve by Siddharth Singh.

 

Source/photos: Family Life Goals, New York Times, The Guardian