Facts About the Tiger's Predicament:
Since the occupation of India by the British, the Bengal tiger's population has twindled to a mere 5,000 from over 100,000 just a century ago.
The tiger's territory used to range from Turkey to east Asia. Now tigers are scarcely scattered in small patches.
Current estimates predict that at least one tiger is poached everyday. Go to the "Tiger's current situation" for more detail, and if you would like to help out, go to the "Get involved" link to the left.
One of the primary threats to the Bengal tiger is the destruction of its habitat. This is due to a complete lack of political will on the part of the Indian government to realize the importance of the tiger's situation and act accordingly. An increasingrpaw.gif population and economic liberalization has opened all areas to development including tiger habitats across India which pollutes and destroys the land.
The second primary threat to tigers is their illegal poaching of them for their bones, skins, teeth, nails among other parts. Tiger parts are used in Chinese medicine. This contributes to at least one tiger death everyday in India.
When poachers and dealers are apprehended for killing tigers in India, they are usually released on bail and re-offend. For this reason, tiger reserves, national parks, and sanctuaries can no longer be considered as 'asylums' for the tiger.
Conservation staff are poorly trained and equipped. In some areas, conservation staff are stranded at guard posts so they cover the the immediate region visible to them instead of the entire park.
