Why are Tigers Becoming Extinct?
Firstly, tigers are not necessarily becoming extinct and by 'extinct' we mean in the wild because there will probably always be captive 'generic' tigers. A recent camera trap survey of Bengal tiger numbers in India indicated increased numbers.
The Bengal tiger in India and Bangladesh is high endangered and may become extinct in the wild due to (a) poaching in the reserves in India to supply the tiger body part business in China. Wealthy Chinese like to eat tiger body parts. Ask them why! Also (b) the Bengal tiger reserves are arguably too small. The population sizes in the reserves are consequently too small and they are island populations which can result in inbreeding and infertility. Essentially, the tiger does not have enough space due to constantly increasing human population size in India and Bangladesh. It could be said that the reserves were poorly created.
The tiger reserves are not that well managed if we are honest. Some are and some are not. Four tiger reserves in India at 2015 have no tigers! I suppose this is due to poaching.
As for the Siberian tiger living in the far east of Russian, there are around 400 but a lot of the cats are infertile making the breeding population around 14. Small population sizes = infertility = extinction gradually.
The Sumatran tiger is losing its habitat and its prey which is the main reason for its gradual extinction. Essentially it is all about loss of habitat, loss of tiger prey and above all for the Bengal tiger (the subspecies with the highest numbers) poaching so people can eat it. Bizarre.
The Bengal tiger in India and Bangladesh is high endangered and may become extinct in the wild due to (a) poaching in the reserves in India to supply the tiger body part business in China. Wealthy Chinese like to eat tiger body parts. Ask them why! Also (b) the Bengal tiger reserves are arguably too small. The population sizes in the reserves are consequently too small and they are island populations which can result in inbreeding and infertility. Essentially, the tiger does not have enough space due to constantly increasing human population size in India and Bangladesh. It could be said that the reserves were poorly created.
The tiger reserves are not that well managed if we are honest. Some are and some are not. Four tiger reserves in India at 2015 have no tigers! I suppose this is due to poaching.
As for the Siberian tiger living in the far east of Russian, there are around 400 but a lot of the cats are infertile making the breeding population around 14. Small population sizes = infertility = extinction gradually.
The Sumatran tiger is losing its habitat and its prey which is the main reason for its gradual extinction. Essentially it is all about loss of habitat, loss of tiger prey and above all for the Bengal tiger (the subspecies with the highest numbers) poaching so people can eat it. Bizarre.
