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Threats to Wild Tigers GrowingMay 31, 2007
The wild tiger now occupies a mere 7 percent of its historic range, and areas known to be inhabited by tigers have declined by 41 percent over the past decade, according to an article published in the June 2007 issue of BioScience. Growing trade in folk medicines made from tiger parts and tiger skins, along with habitat loss and fragmentation, is believed to be the chief reason. The assessment, by Eric Dinerstein of the World Wildlife Fund and 15 coauthors, describes the wild tiger’s population trajectory as “catastrophic” and urges international cooperation to ensure the animal’s continued existence in the wild. Despite these discouraging numbers—only about 5000 wild tigers are believed to be left—some conservation programs have been successful. Dinerstein and his coauthors highlight a program in the Terai-Arc Landscape of northwestern India and southern Nepal as a notable victory. The scheme features wildlife corridors that connect 12 reserves. Tiger conservation efforts have also been successful in the Russian Far East. Many tiger reserves in India, by contrast, have been mismanaged and have failed to protect the animals, according to the article. Plans to make use of tiger parts harvested from farmed tigers in China represent an emerging threat, the authors argue. Any trade in tiger parts encourages poaching because products made from animals that have been farmed (at great expense) cannot be distinguished from products made from wild tigers. Because tigers must be able to roam over large areas, long-term conservation of the species will need planning that involves religious and civic leaders as well as national and local governments. International cooperation among nations that harbor the animal will also be essential. Dinerstein and his coauthors conclude by recommending that these countries appoint “tiger ambassadors” to advocate for the species, step up efforts to prosecute poachers, and provide economic incentives to encourage conservation. The complete list of research articles in the June 2007 issue of BioScience is as follows: Understanding the Genetic Basis of Floral Diversity The Implications of Scaling Approaches for Understanding Resilience and Reorganization in Ecosystems Hidden Messages: Are Ultraviolet Signals a Special Channel in Avian Communication? The Fate of Wild Tigers Is There Any Common Curriculum for Undergraduate Biology Majors in the 21st Century? The Role of Climatic Change in the Evolution of Mammals ContactJennifer Williams
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