India's wild tiger population is now between 1,300 and 1,500—less than half of what it was in 2002—according to preliminary estimates from an ongoing government census. The new numbers—announced at a gathering of conservationists in New Delhi last week—are a shocking drop from the previous population estimate of about 3,600.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has been conducting the new tiger census as part of a government-funded effort that has been appointed the equivalent of ten million U.S. dollars.
In addition to reviewing India's tiger numbers, the program will appraise the factors influencing the cat's long-term survival, said WII director Priya Ranjan Sinha.
So far the survey has found that "tigers appear to be doing well inside the country's tiger reserves, but not outside [protected] forest areas," Sinha said.
That means that most of the roughly 1,500 tigers in Indian parks and sanctuaries are more or less safe.
Conservationists say it is now critical to refocus conservation efforts on migratory and resident tiger populations in unprotected areas, such as the Hoshangabad region south of Bhopal in the central state of Madhya Pradesh (India map).
"Indian tigers are not entirely down and out," said Sujoy Banerjee, head of the species conservation program at the Indian branch of the international conservation organization WWF.
"But if we don't wake up now, the only tigers we will see will be at the zoo."
Siberian (or Amur) tigers are the world's largest cats. They live primarily in eastern Russia's birch forests, though some exist in China and North Korea. There are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and recent studies suggest that these numbers are stable. Though their northern climate is far harsher than those of other tigers, these animals have some advantages. Northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and the most complete ecosystem. The vast woodlands also allow tigers far more room to roam, as Russia's timber industry is currently less extensive than that of many other countries.
Tigers are the largest of all wild cats and are renowned for their power and strength. There were once eight tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last hundred years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced overall tiger populations from hundreds of thousands to perhaps 5,000 to 7,000. Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place. Poaching is a reduced—but still very significant—threat to Siberian tigers.
Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful hunters that travel many miles to find prey, such as elk and wild boar, on nocturnal hunts. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes) and hunt by stealth. They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in one night, though they usually eat less.
Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans; however, a few do become dangerous maneaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in areas where their traditional prey has vanished.
Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.
Special Features Of Tigers:
-Tigers are the biggest of the cat family
-Tigers usually lay low and sleep for the day and at night they arise and hunt for their prey
-Tigers can eat more than their own body weight
-Tigers usually drag their hunt/prey down to a quite and camouflage place to consume the meal.
