Tigers Pictures - Conservation

Picture source: Windleys Enterprise Computing Weblog © 2004 Phillip J. Windley

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a great human population increase in Asia, which resulted in rapid growth of urban establishments and villages. This led to habitat destruction and to low prey availability. Eventually, Tigers had to move to ghost towns, as there were few areas left for them in the wild.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that most Tiger populations are not numerous. The isolated populations face the problem of inbreeding because there are not enough individual tigers among similar subspecies within a territory. Besides, chance factors such as the birth of same-sexed cubs can devastate the population greatly.

Hunting is probably the most ancient factor that influenced the declining population of Tigers. Since the start of their coexistence with humans into the 20th century, the species was extensively hunted for fur and body parts. And, Tiger hunting was a thrilling pass time for many people.

At the moment, the Tiger is considered as endangered and hunting is illegal. However, poaching still occurs. Bones and body parts are sent to the black market and then used for medicinal remedies that are traditional for Chinese medicine.

The Caspian, Javan, and Balinese Tigers are considered extinct.

Tigers Pictures - Plans and Programs

Picture source: The Vanishing Tiger © 2000-2001 Candice Klarich

Officially, the species has already received attention and is now listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the World Conservation Union. According to the Convention on International Trade, the Tiger or Tiger parts cannot be traded.

It is believed that establishing parks and reserves is not sufficient to save the Tiger. Scientists state, that without establishing sound habitats, the conservation of the Tiger is never going to succeed. Breeding Tigers at zoos also helps to preserve the species.

Tigers Pictures - Conservation Links

BBC News: India Defends Tiger Conservation Record - The Indian state has defended a report that criticized its Tiger conservation record.

Bengal Tigers Conservational Initiative - A detailed description of the species and what is being done to protect it.

Big Cat Rescue - The world's largest and most diverse collection of rare and exotic cats. Here you will meet and learn all about lions, Tigers and bearcats!

Big Cats Conservation - Problems of reproduction and keeping these animals in captivity and organizing sanctuaries for them in their habitats.

Big Endangered Cats - The purpose of this organization is to inspire continued interest in all wild cats such that viewers may be both motivated and equipped to protect cats in the wild.

Dying of the Tiger - abcNews.com - Loss of habitat and poaching are responsible for the alarming decline in Tiger populations. Find out about different species, range, and their status in the wild.

Endangered Species: Sumatran Tigers - Reasons for Sumatran Tiger conservation.

MSN Groups - The Endangered Tiger - Community for those interested in animal conservation provides a forum for exchanging ideas and opinions on issues related to the protection of Tigers in the wild.

New Project of Cooperation in Amur Tiger Conservation - Signing an agreement on the start of implementation of a new project of cooperation in Amur Tiger conservation.

Project Tiger Directorate, New Delhi - Preservation organization based in India offers profiles of Tiger reserves, Tiger sounds, and a map summarizing India's Tiger population.

Picture source: SAVE THE TIGERS

Rehabilitated Siberian Tiger Killed by Poachers - A two-year old Siberian (Amur) Tiger nursed back to health and released into the wild by biologists in July 2001 has been killed by poachers in northeastern Russia, the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced.

Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1995 - Purposes and details.

Save the Tiger Fund Announces Alliance with Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund - Save The Tiger Fund (STF) and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) have joined forces to link Tiger conservation programs across Asia, a major step in unifying the efforts of many conservation organizations.

Saving Wild Tigers - A project of the Sierra Club volunteers.

Siberian Tiger Project - Since 1992, the Wildlife Conservation Society's Hornocker Wildlife Institute has conducted intensive studies of Tiger ecology in cooperative association with the Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik (reserve).

Sumatran Tiger Trade Flourishing as Species Dwindles - As demand for Sumatran Tiger skins increases in Southeast Asia, the species' wild population is shrinking. Join a message board.

Sumatran Tigers at Taman Safari Need Help - Campaign to help Perth Zoo upgrade the Sumatran Tiger facility, and for educational programs to prevent the extinction of the Sumatran Tiger.

The largest of All Cats Killed by Traditional Chinese Medicine? - Information on the species classification, habitat, characteristics, and current status and threats.

The Tiger Crisis in Indonesia - Indonesia once had three subspecies of Tiger. Today, two are extinct and only 500 wild Sumatran Tigers remain.

The Vanishing Tiger - Tiger picture and photo collection.

The World Conservation Union: White Tigers - Alan Shoemaker, zoologist at Riverbanks Zoological Park, Columbia, South Carolina, takes issue with the statement in CAT NEWS 8 that the legendary white tiger of Rewa, Mohan, was ancestor to all white tigers in zoos today.

Tiger Conservation in the Wild in Asia - By the National Zoo. To conserve the Tiger, the top carnivore in Asian forests, the methods we use and the approaches we take to understand their ecological needs and conservation must encompass the large spatial scales at which they live their lives.

Tiger Trade - A survey on importance of this species to medicine and threats to the existence of Siberian Tigers.

Tigers in the Wild - Describes the conservation efforts of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to save Tigers from extinction due primarily to habitat loss and illegal killing.

Time Running out to Save Sumatran Tiger - A world authority on Tigers says education is vital if the Sumatran Tiger of Indonesia is to be saved from extinction.

Vanishing Species - Tiger - Provides facts and details on Siberian and Bengal Tigers, including taxonomy, statistics, offspring, and relationship with humans. Includes 184 pictures of Tigers.

"Wilderness Diagnosis: What Is the White Bengal Tiger's Future?" - Death from disease is not the only enemy of India's wildlife. Poaching is depleting its fragile wilderness.