The Causes Of Tiger Extinction And Solutions To It

The purpose of this research is to explain the causes which are leading to the extinction of the tiger species. It discusses the rate of extinction of the tiger species in specific countries and worldwide. It also presents the consequences that will occur due to the extinction of tigers. The following research will aim to raise awareness about preventing the extinction of the tiger breed.

Currently there are six out of nine subspecies of tigers left. Bali, Caspian, Javan tigers have been extinct since (1930’s – 1980’s) loss of environment, and other human factors. If there is no serious action taken by the humans to try to prevent the extinction of tigers it is predicted that the tiger species will mostly be extinct by the next decade. The threats that are threatening the life of the tigers are many, but the most significant are; habitat loss, human wildlife conflict, effects of climate change, captive tigers. Humans play a huge role in being a major cause in the endangerment of the tiger species. Humans are trying to prevent the extinction of the tiger species that are left but are still threatening their life in many ways. They build artificial reserves for the tigers in order to save what is left from their species worldwide, but in the other hand they are destroying the tiger’s natural environment. The actions taken by humans to save the tigers are not as helpful as we would like it to be. This research will mainly discuss the causes of Tiger Endangerment and the possible consequences caused by it and the actions that can be taken by us humans to prevent the extinction the tigers.

Tiger endangerment

Of the original nine breed of tigers, three have become extinct in the last 80 years; an average of one every 20 years. It is mostly predicted that the Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, Siberian, South China, and Sumatran tigers will be extinct by the next decade.

The Bengal tigers which have the most number of subspecies left in the wild estimated around 2,500. They live in a wide range of habitats and are mostly found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The major threat for these breeds is poaching.

The Indochinese tigers population is estimated to be around 300 individuals left in the wild, located in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Very less is known about their population due to the restricted access of the areas they live in. Poaching is a major cause of their rapid decline.

The Malayan tigers are estimated to be around 500 only which are only found in the Malay Peninsula and the southern part of Thailand. Environment fragmentation and commercial poaching are the major threats to the remaining Malayan tigers.

The Siberian tigers also known as Amur tigers are located in the southeast region of Russia and also found in small numbers in North Korea and China. They’re estimated to be around 300 tigers in the regions mentioned. Habitat loss and poaching are the primary threats to their survival.

The South China tigers are critically threatened with about two dozen may be left of them; many believe they’re completely extinct already as no South China tiger have been seen in the wild the last 20 years. They only occupy central and eastern China. Their endangerment is caused due to four main threats: poaching, environment destruction, extermination and climate change.

The Sumatran tigers are only found in Indonesian island Sumatra, less than 400 of this subspecies exist today. The main threat to the Sumatran tigers poaching, habitat loss and illegal trade of tiger’s parts and products.

The IUCN classified the following subspecies as threatened: the Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, and Siberian tigers. And the last two were classified as critically threatened: the South China tiger and the Sumatran tigers.

Issues

The black and orange striped breed became an iconic part of the human life, it being used in cereals and selling gas shows its importance. But what will happen the moment it goes extinct. The tiger species are in decline and are threatened, this is due to many causes but the humans take much blame for it. There are many issues caused by tiger extinction, but I’ve chosen to focus on the impact caused by tiger extinction to the ecosystems, food chains and the economy

The first issue is the reason tigers are threatened, whether it’s caused by human factors or non-human factors. According to many studies, poaching is the main reason tigers are threatened, as they’re being hunt down for their skins and bones to make traditional medicine, folk remedies, their claws being used to make jewelry and pendants particularly in several Asian countries. Although tiger poaching is illegal in many countries it is still done illegally, mostly because tiger belts are extremely valuable in the black market, it is said tigers pelt could cost at least around 20 thousand dollars and sometimes even more.

According to (WPSI’s Tiger Poaching Statistics), tiger poaching is reltively decreasing but not yet stopped, it was highest during 1995 where about 120 tigers havce been poached, most probably because tigers were more available than they are now, and it was lowest during march 31 2019 where the tigers poached are less than 20, this proves the tiger numbers are dramiatcally decreasing.

However others argue that the main reason behind tiger endangerment is due to climate change and enviroment loss, climate change poses a huge threat to tiger’s habitats, although tigers are highly adaptable; rising sea levels, temperature changes, and natural disasters are threatening the forests tigers consider as their homes. Rising sea levels cause salt water to migrate into fresh water polluting the tiger’s drinking source, tigers must find new freshwater sources and move to higher ground causing conflicts with communities living there. Temperature change alters the enviroment for Siberian tigers in Russia and China as Korean pine forests give way to fir and spruce trees. Scientists expect more frequent wildfires in the remote regions where tigers live, destroying their habitat and threatening their food source. Tigers have lost about 93% of the historical range. Their enviroments are being destroyed for agriculture, building road networks and many other human developments.

Yet I still believe the main reason behind their endangerment is because of humans, as climate change and habitat loss is also alternatively caused by humans.

The other issue is the way tigers should be protected, most believe that they should be protected by being kept in monitored reserves, to monitor their eating, cleaning and treat them if required and make them reproduce if possible to increase their numbers, but not all tigers are kept in those reservers, only the ones found and its pretty difficult to find them, searches should be carried to be able to find them and capture them without hurting the tigers or hurting theirselves.holding them captive is the only way to dodge the dangers they face in the wild due to poaching or other threats.

But some think that it is best to leave the tigers in the wild to be able to live freely and reproduce on its own and make it illegal to hunt them down, that way they will have enough space as it is common that captive tigers develop abnormal behaviors because of the limited space where they live and the continuous contact with humans. Enclosed and confined to a small area they cannot do what they usually do in the wild.

I personally think that tigers should be kept in reservers for their own safety, eventhough it is said to be illegal to hunt them down it is still done illegaly and their parts are being sold in the black market.

Consequences

If tigers go extinct, it will negatively impact many things such as ecosystems, economic development and many others.

Extinction of tigers will disturb the food chain, the main reason tigers are threatened is because of loss of environment. Tigers are an apex predator which means they’re at the top of the food chain and in the middle, they eat many animals but no animals eat full grown tigers so it keeps the population of deers and Wilbur etc. in line, without tigers to control them, these species would expand which has many further consequences.

The food will decrease because of the fact that there are more animals consuming it. If the vegetation in the rainforest decreases the smaller animals and insects will move to our crops and farmlands. When all the large animals the tigers were supposed to prey on eats the whole forest, the plants will stop growing and the soil will become infertile so no more plants will grow then the forest and everything depending on it will die.

Another consequence is loss of ecotourism opportunities. Local communities are working with the competent authorities to develop ecotourism opportunities based around tigers. These sprouting business opportunities will definitely fail if tigers go extinct.

If tigers go extinct, the forests which are currently preserved as a key habitat for tigers would be more likely to fall victim to illegal logging. This causes greater CO2 emissions which lead to climate change which was discussed in the research previously.

It would be a huge cultural loss as well as it is considered extremely symbolic and represented in many artistic forms in many Asian cultures.

When a certain breed becomes extinct, poachers turn their attention to the remaining subspecies causing them to be threatened as well. Which animal will be exploited into extinction once all the tigers are extinct?

Possble solutions

There aren’t many ways humans have to help prevent tiger extinction, but there are a few ways humans can do in order to prevent tiger extinction. They mainly include: spreading the word, being responsible, voicing concerns, preventing wildlife trade and reducing pressure on natural resources.

If we are really concerned about tiger extinction, then we should spread the word and tell others that the tigers and their environment are under threat and they need our help. People can form or join forums on the web for exchange of ideas on tiger conservation.

The people must know that they are a major cause to tiger extinction and must start being responsible in many ways such as; following the forest department guidelines when visiting and wilderness area, tiger reserve in particular. As the quote says “Don’t leave anything behind except footsteps, and don’t take anything except memories”

If somebody feels really concerned about tiger conservation, they can voice their concerns in the form of letters to the competent authorities such as the Prime Minister, the Minister of Environment and Forests or even their local MP.

As we all know that wildlife trade is a major cause in tiger extinction. We must say NO to tiger trade by refusing to buy tiger parts and items prepared from tiger derivatives. If they know any information on poaching or trade of illegal wildlife, inform the local law enforcement agencies.

Finally, the easiest thing we can do to help prevent tiger extinction is reducing pressure on natural resources, by reducing the use of products derived from forests such as timber and paper.

All these are some possible solution that will help in reducing the threat but won’t completely solve the problem. The problem would only be solved if it has the enough attention from the competent authorities.

Personal approach

I don’t think tiger extinction personally affects me or my finally but it definitely has a negative impact on many individuals, especially those who their cultures or religions involve tigers. Personally, I would want my kids to see tigers like many other future parents, the future generation won’t have a clue about what tigers are and why they aren’t here now and we’re the ones to question.

We might not be the ones to actually endanger them but we helped in their endangerment somehow by many ways such as buying products having tiger skin, teeth etc. It’s not too late to save the tigers yet but each individual should do their part and that’ll be more than enough.