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THIS CENTURY--LOSING THE TIGER
In 1900, perhaps 100,000 tigers roamed the forests of Asia. By 1996, there were fewer than 8,000
left. Eight subspecies of tiger once ranged in different habitats. Three of these--the Caspian tiger, Bali tiger, and Java
tiger--have become extinct since 1940.
Despite the efforts of conservation communities, populations of the remaining five subspecies
are declining at an alarming rate. Except for a few scattered specimens, the South China tiger is virtually extinct. And there
may be fewer than 300 Siberian tigers left in the wild today.
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NO SAFE PLACE
Decades of scientific research on tigers and their prey have provided us with a set of guidelines
to develop and design protected areas to help the species survive. However, these reserves protect only a fraction of tiger
habitat, and most are under severe human presure. Loss of tiger habitat has become critical. And even within protected reserves,
tigers are hunted illegally. In the last few years, this killing has increased dramatically, fueled by illegal trade in tiger
body parts. On top of habitat loss, poaching could be the death blow for the tiger.
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