The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger that inhabits regions of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma and Tibet. It is the most well-known and studied subspecies of Indian tiger and, furthermore, it is one of the most threatened animals in danger of extinction. In this species, there is a very striking genetic mutation that causes the orange color of the fur to become leucistic, giving rise to a white bengal tiger
Despite being one of India's sacred animals, the Bengal tiger has not been sufficiently protected. In this article on our site we will tell why the tiger is in danger of extinction and if there are solutions to improve its conservation status.
Bengal Tiger Conservation Status
The largest populations of Bengal tigers are found in India, but there is not much connection between them, due to a very severe habitat fragmentation. So there are completely isolated subpopulations of tigers.
Recently, population censuses have been carried out with a greater degree of accuracy, using a more scientific method. These censuses serve to assess how many Bengal tigers remain. In the last census the estimated population was 1,706 individuals, with the highest density of tigers found in areas of Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The governments of the countries where some tiger subspecies live created the Global Tiger Recovery Program. A program for the recovery of all tiger subspecies. The governments that make up the program are the Republic of Bangladesh, the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of China, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Burma, Nepal, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam.
The censuses carried out by these governments estimate the world population at less than 2,500 individuals, without any subpopulation being greater than 250 individuals. In addition, the global population trend of the Bengal tiger is decreasing.
For all these reasons, the Bengal tiger is in danger of extinction.
Causes that the Bengal tiger is in danger of extinction
The framework surrounding the disappearance of the Bengal tiger is quite complex. In summary, we could determine that the biggest threats to tigers are:
Habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss
One of the main threats to this species is the damage caused to its natural environment. Habitat degradation, fragmentation and subsequent loss have been mainly due to humans. It has destroyed forests and grasslands to increase agricultural production due to growing human populations. Likewise, commercial logging, both legal and illegal, has had an impact on habitat destruction. In about 10 years, the territory occupied by the Bengal tiger decreased by 41%. In the next 20 to 30 years, a similar decline is expected if efforts to conserve the species do not improve.
Poaching and illegal trade
poaching and illegal trade of tigers or their body parts continue to increase, despite being totally illegal. This is one of the most direct threats to Bengal tigers in the wild. Some areas perfectly inhabited by tigers have been devastated by illegal hunting These crimes have not been prosecuted as much as they should, nor have they had a high priority within tiger conservation programs.
Local Communities
Generally, the people who live near or in the tigers' territories are humans belonging to very low social classes, without economic resources and that it totally depends on local agriculture and livestock. Tiger conservation programs do not take into account these people, whose only resource for survival is the forest.
If their cattle are attacked by a tiger, they lose capital that the government does not return. So they do not want to have tigers around, because of this, poison, chase and hunt them In future conservation plans, consideration should be given to these people and work with them to protect their heritage, minimizing conflict between humans and tigers.
Poaching and the new trend of eating "wild food" in big cities is also killing the tiger's natural prey, who are forced to hunt cattle.
In relation to these types of problems with local communities, you may also be interested in the article on our site "Is it true that wolves attack people?"
Solutions to prevent the extinction of the Bengal tiger
There is no single solution so that the Bengal tiger is not in danger of extinction, it is a set of actions aimed at the nature conservation that can achieve any positive outcome for the Bengal tiger. According to the Global Tiger Recovery Program, governments must:
- Effectively manage, preserve, protect and enhance tiger habitats.
- End poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in tigers and their body parts.
- Cooperate in border management and control.
- Engage, educate and protect local communities.
- Increase tiger prey populations.
- Search for external economic support.
