The very mention of the word "tiger" is enough to conjure up images of huge, striped cats stalking their prey through dense vegetation before launching a powerful and deadly attack. For many of us these images are a result of hundreds of years of stories, and more recently videos. Tigers are found across a huge area but the populations are becoming more and more isolated, but still six subspecies of this magnificent animal remain.
Extinct Subspecies of Tiger
There were once nine known subspecies of tiger but ruthless hunting and habitat destruction throughout the 20th Century saw three of these disappear forever. The first to become extinct was the Bali tiger and the last recorded animal to be killed was a female, shot in 1937, however it is believed some may have survived into the 1940's. The second species to become extinct was the Caspian Tiger found throughout The Middle East from Uzbekistan to Iran and Iraq. It is believed this animal became extinct in the 1950's though there have been several apparent sightings of the animal since then. Finally in the 1980's the Javan Tiger became extinct as a result of severe hunting and habitat destruction. The last confirmed sighting was in 1979 but reports still surfaced as late as the 1990's.
It is a tragedy that these magnificent big cats have been lost forever, but if action isn't taken the remaining six subspecies face the same prospects.
The Six Remaining Tiger Subspecies.
The most common subspecies of the genus Panthera is the Bengal Tiger, which is the tiger most people are familiar with. It lives primarily in the grasslands and subtropical rainforests of India and Bangladesh however there are a number of animals found in Nepal. Despite increased protection, poachers continue to wreak havoc among the populations of Bengal Tigers, pushing the species to the very brink of extinction.
The Northernmost species of tiger is the Siberian or Amur Tiger, which is found exclusively in the Amur-Ussuri region in Eastern Siberia. This cat is superbly adapted to life in the harsh Siberian wilderness with it's thick coat. This is the largest Subspecies of Tiger and a six month old cub can be as big as a fully grown leopard. Again this subspecies is endangered as a result of human activity.
The most critically endangered subspecies is the South China Tiger, which is listed as one of the 10 most endangered animals anywhere on Earth. There are known to be just 59 in Captivity but the genetic viability of the species is in doubt as all 59 animals are descended from just six. However conservationists are working hard to reintroduce them back to the wild.
The smallest of tigers is the Sumatran Tiger which inhabits the dense forests of the Island of Sumatra. Numbers are so low that between 1998 and 2000 66 tigers were shot and this accounted for a huge 20% of the total population. This has lead to calls for the Sumatran tiger to be afforded greater priority for conservation than any of the other subspecies.
Finally, the Malayan Tiger, is the second smallest subspecies and is found exclusively on the Southern edge of the Malayan Peninsula. This subspecies was not recognised until 2004 after a study by Scientists from the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity. Reports suggest there are around 700 left in the wild and even with such small numbers this is the 3rd largest population of tigers in the world.
A Species In Danger
The entire species of tiger is endangered, largely as a result of Human activity. We have already lost three subspecies of this amazing animal and we face losing the remaining six in the near future. You can get involved in helping save them, by adopting a tiger. This is a wonderful gift for anyone but it is made more remarkable by the fact that is really will help the conservation effort to save one of the world's most amazing creatures.
