Tiger Conservation: Saving the Tiger Series 1

In this series, i will focus on the conservation of the tiger and conservation efforts around the world. But first, i'll talk about why we need to save the tiger.

Why We Need To Save The Tiger
Yes, why do we need to save the tiger?

I'll answer this question with facts about the tiger and maybe this might help you see why we need to conserve these creatures. (Special thanks to 'Tiger Time' organization for this information. You can check out their website at http://tigertime.info/)

Facts on the Tiger:
1. Tigers shape the ecosystems in which they live in by preventing over-grazing through limiting herbivore numbers and maintain ecological integrity. (It's a harsh reality but only so that the ecosystem is balanced.)
2. Tigers are solitary animals and live in large habitat ranges. This makes them an excellent 'umbrella' species providing space for a variety of other species to flourish. In fact, in India, there are more than 350 rivers that originate from tiger reserves, cool, right? Hence, protecting tiger habitats will in turn protect these habitats. It may also help buffer poor communities in Asia against the impacts of river siltation and flooding due to reforestation efforts in tiger habitats.
3. Tigers bring in tourism which is obviously beneficial to the local populations.

And my answer to this question, well, God gave us all animals to care for and tigers are irreplaceable...like any other magnificent creature, they deserve to live another day.

Don't you think so too?

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

The Sanctuary: A Tiger's Refuge
There are more than 441 sanctuaries in India of which some have been declared as tiger reserves under the Project Tiger scheme. That's a lot of them! As usual, i filtered out 3 of them. These sanctuaries have done their best to conserve tigers despite not being among the Project Tiger reserves of India.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad District, Kerala
The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Wayanad, Kerala and was established in 1973. In fact, it is the second largest sanctuary in Wayanad. It forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that was established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is made up of two forest regions known as Muthanga and Tholpetty covering about 344 sq.km.

The sanctuary is very rich in flora and fauna. The fauna found here include the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, wild dog, Indian python, common Indian monitor, black buck, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, blue bull, common langoor, harep, jackal, mongoose, peacock, jungle fowl and flying squirrel. Among these, there are reported to be about 45 species of mammals, 216 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 30 species of amphibians and 59 species of fish. The sanctuary is part of Project Elephant where herds of elephants roam freely across the ranges. About a third of the sanctuary is covered by plantation of teak, rosewood, eucalyptus and silver oak. 

A study conducted in 2012 on tiger monitoring by the Kerala Forest Department and WWF India in the sanctuary revealed that it may be housing the largest population of tigers in South India after Bandipur Tiger Reserve, a sanctuary adjacent to the Wayanad. The study revealed that the sanctuary was home to as many as 80 tigers including 10 cubs! Awesome, ha?

Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhandara District, Maharashtra
Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is a small and little-known reserve covering 152 sq.km located in Bhandara District. It is commonly known as the Green Oasis of Vidharba region as it is enclosed in nature and landscape. In fact, nearly 30,000 tourists visit the sanctuary annually. The sanctuary consists of hills and lakes within its boundary. The land has diverse vegetation and forests that provide refuge for animals and birds. Animals commonly spotted are the tiger, panther, leopard, bison, sloth bear, sambar, four-headed antelope, blue bull, chital, barking deer, mouse deer, civet cat, jackal, jungle cat, spotted hyena and hare. Birds commonly spotted are the peafowl, grey jungle fowl and red spur fowl. The sanctuary is home to 34 species of mammals, 166 species of birds and 36 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibia and fish. There are also 49 recorded species of butterflies.

Maharashtra region is home to many wildlife sanctuaries. The Government of India is determined to protect these places in order to attract tourists. In fact, the state government of Maharashtra has awarded a research project a lump sum amount to study the density, habitual patterns, eating habits, socio-economic impacts of the tiger including their numbers, that of their co-predators and prey. It is a five year project that targets Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and adjoining landscapes such as Navegaon National Park, Bor, Chaprala and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuaries. The research will also target to look into cases of human-tiger conflict, a major concern of the study.

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary has been known to be one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in India as well as a favorite spot for tourists. In fact, they say, while travelling to Maharashtra, one's itinerary should include visiting this sanctuary. It is spread over 134 sq.kms and is home to nearly 131 species of wild animals and birds such as the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, wild boar, black buck, barking deer, peacock, common langoor, common Indian monitor, mongoose, Indian python, flying squirrel, sambar, jackal, jungle fowl, harep, blue bull, spotted dear, and sloth bear. The existence of some of these animals is said to be threatened. The land here is vastly populated with wildlife and vegetation, some of which are endangered. There are also several water places where tourists go boating. It is a real treat for any visitor and is a majestic place for nature lovers.

Out of the 23 species of mammals recorded, 5 species are endangered, namely the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear and wild dog. Two species of reptiles are also endangered; the Indian python and common Indian monitor. There are also 3 species of birds that hold the endangered status. Chaprala's greatest attraction is the Giant Indian squirrel. Unfortunately, its numbers are steadily declining.

Like Nagzira, Chaprala WS is one of the beneficiaries of the study on tiger populations, habitats and eating habits among other aspects. This will help the government of Maharashtra to find ways of curbing human-tiger conflicts and hopefully bring a lasting solution to this major issue.

These 3 sanctuaries may not be Tiger Reserves but they play a large role in the conservation of tigers, so much that studies are being done on their tiger populations. Now isn't that awesome...makes me think about the David-Goliath story...nothing is too small or insignificant to make an impact!

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

National Parks: The Tiger's Safe House
There are more than 80 national parks in India of which some have been declared as tiger reserves under the Project Tiger scheme. Needless to say, these 3 i believe have displayed great conservation efforts as far as tigers are concerned.

Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur
It is said that when you see a photograph of a tiger in India, then it was most likely taken in Ranthambore National Park! Clearly a favorite of wildlife photographers! Its fame speaks for itself. It is one of India's largest national parks at 1334 square kilometers. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, became a tiger reserve under the Project Tiger in 1973 and was made a national park in 1980. It was among the first nine tiger reserves under the Project Tiger. It was once known as hunting grounds for the Maharajas of Jaipur, a state in India. The park gained celebrity status during the 1960s when Queen Elizabeth II visited and Prince Philip shot a tiger there! Of course this was way back before the park gained protective status in 1973.

It is now one of the best tiger reserves in India, and the most filmed one too! According to non-government sources, in 2008, there were 34 adult tigers and 14 cubs recorded in the park. Like any other park, it is plagued by poaching due to increasing demand for tiger parts in India. There are also several human-tiger conflicts every year as the people live around the reserve herding livestock. Need i say more!

Its most interesting features is that its decorated with ancient ruins including a fort where tigers and leopards are often spotted. It is said to be among the best places in India to spot tigers in their habitat! Tiger Safaris are most popular in this park as it is most known for its diurnal tigers. This means they sleep during the day and hunt at night but also hunt during the day and sleep at night too...Cool,right?

The park is home to other wild animals such as the leopard, jungle cats, sloth bears. hyenas, foxes, jackals and crocodiles. It is also known for its thriving bird species with more than 270 species!

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
This park is known to have many firsts! It is first and foremost, the oldest park in India, established in 1936. It was also the first national park in the whole of Asia! It was the first tiger reserve to be launched by the Project Tiger where this event took place in 1973. It was also first named Hailey National Park in 1936 before being changed to Jim Corbett National Park.

This park is named after Jim Corbett, a naturalist-writer and hunter-turned-conservationist who led man-eater hunting expeditions back in the day. He played a key role in its establishment as a protector of the Bengal tiger. He wrote many writings on his hunting adventures. The park is one of India's most beautiful wildlife areas with a tiger population of around 160! The park is said to be an area with the richest bird region and a favorite of bird enthusiasts with about 600 species sighted and over 488 species of plants with a diverse variety of fauna! A 'healthy' park, isn't it?

In addition to tigers and birds, one is likely to spot leopards, jungle cats, fishing cats, sloth bears, jackals, Bharal, goral, Himalayan tahr, serow, chital, sambal and barking deer. The park is usually known as 'elephant park' where a large number is spotted in Ramganga River, one of the best places to spot them. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of the Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its landscape and wildlife. Apart from wildlife, the park is located at a bio geographic confluence situated at the junction of two hill regions hence representing a synthesis of cultures of these mountain areas. In recent years, more than 70,000 visitors have frequented the park every season. Tells a lot about this park, right?

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Famously known as 'Tiger Land', Kanha National Park is situated in a horse-shoe shaped valley in Central India of Madhya Pradesh. It is named after the clay-like soil, Kanhar found in this area. Besides the tiger, Kanha has the largest variety of fauna in the country that includes 22 species of mammals. It is said to be an excellent park for wildlife and photography. The park came into being in 1955 where strict conservation measures for protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha a deserved reputation for being the finest administered national park in all of Asia! It is in fact the biggest national park in Madhya Pradesh and the largest in Central India. Awesome,ha?

The major feature of the park might be its interesting topography but its major draw still remains its Royal Bengal tigers. Actually, Kanha is said to have the most sightings of tigers in all of India! Other species that can be spotted include: Indian hare, wild dog, stripped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pg, spotless deer, black buck, Sambar, Barasingha, leopard, stripped hyenas and others. In fact, the reintroduction of the rare swamp deer, Barasigha also known as the 'Jewel of Kanha' into the park, gave it worldwide recognition since it is its largest preservation. This park also gained popularity when the famous Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the book, "The Jungle Book" used the park's location and several of its settings in his story. The park also boasts a large avian population of about 200 species.

These 3 national parks serve as an example as to the benefits of conserving wildlife. They are working to make the world a better place for wildlife, what are you doing? Food for thought.

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

Reserves: The Tiger's Protector
There are numerous reserves around the world working on protecting the tiger. A large number of them are found in India. So you can guess that my top 3 choices are from there!

There are 53 tiger reserves in India alone governed by Project Tiger, administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The Project Tiger was formed by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi in 1973. It was put in place to save the tiger species of India, as this animal is India's national symbol and a vital part of their culture. India has currently over 80 national parks and 441 sanctuaries of which some have been declared as tiger reserves by the government under the Project Tiger Scheme. Below is just 3 of them:

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
This reserve was established as a national park in 1968 and as a reserve in 1993. It is named after the highest hill in the park (807m), where the Bandhavgarh fort sits. This park offers much more than just wildlife. With historical temples, 10th century shrines and hand-carved caves within tropical forests, steep rocky hills and valleys, it is undoubtedly the most beautiful park in India.

Despite the magnificence, the one thing that draws tourist's attention is the tiger population there that amounts to about 63 tigers (when they were last counted). This park is well known for its Royal Bengal tigers. It is also a natural hub for White tigers! Cool, ha?

Of course, there are other species such as leopards, wild boar, sloth, rhesus monkeys and birds however, the tiger population there is quite something. Needless to say, it is a popular tourist destination!

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
This is the largest national park in Maharashtra with a total reserve area of 1727 km² and created in 1955. It was not well known until recently. This park located in Northern Maharashtra, offers a fascinating view of a jungle in Central India. 

It has two lakes and open waterholes that ensure the population of tigers, all 43 of them (census 2010), are well watered. There are more than 200 bird species here too! It is no wonder that it is the only reserve in India that is open all year!

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal

The Sunderbans is a national park, tiger reserve, biosphere reserve and a wildlife sanctuary all in one! It is located in West Bengal, India and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. It is famous for its low-lying mangrove estuary which are the largest in the world! 

The Tiger Reserve has a large number of tiger populations numbering up to 70 of them at the last census! It is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger and generally the largest tiger reserve in the world. Actually, it is reported that there are over 250 tigers in the Sundarbans forest area...you can say its popular with the tigers! So rich is its ecosystem that it was declared a World Heritage Site way back in 1989! Feel free to explore more of Sunderbans here...http://www.westbengaltourism.gov.in/web/guest/sunderban-home

There are several other tiger reserves in the world. However, India has proven to host a larger number of them and for this, we need to applaud the good work they are doing to protect these magnificent creatures!

Can i say, बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद (bahut dhanyavaad)

Translated...thank you very much!

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

The Zoo: A Tiger Preserve 
There are several zoos in the world that have become second homes to tiger species. I must say, they are doing a great job! However, i have decided to pick my top 3 choices (am not ranking them or anything ).

Sriracha Tiger Zoo
The Sriracha Tiger Zoo is home to more than 400 Royal Bengal tigers! The largest of their population in one place. Now isn't that exciting? This zoo is found in Bangkok, Thailand and is also known to host the largest number of crocodiles amounting to around 10,000 of them!

This zoo despite various controversies and internet meme's hosts these wild animals together where most of them have been known to interact. In fact, some of the public shows involves a mother tiger nursing piglets dressed in tiger fur and a sow nursing tiger cubs! Don't believe me... Be my guest! Check out this link...http://www.tigerzoo.com/eng/hightligh2.php and prepare to be amazed!

So i guess we all have our views on whether this is orthodox or not? Well, in my opinion, i fully support any species being able to roam free in their natural habitat, but as we've seen so far,they don't really have that anymore. So am glad these tiger's have found new homes. And isn't it great that these creatures are living peacefully with one another?

San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Zoo Park
The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park, San Diego. It is privately operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego founded by Dr. H.M. Wegeforth. It is home to over 3700 animals of over 650 species and sub-species. Among this large number, are tigers. Over the years, San Diego Zoo has hosted over 100 Bengal, Siberian, Malayan and Sumatran tigers!

Currently, this zoo is home to a Malayan tiger called Connor while the SD Zoo Safari Park hosts a mother tiger, Delta, her offspring and her brothers Conrad and Thomas. The zoo has had 23 Sumatran tigers born there and since they are critically endangered, this place is a great boost to their conservation. In fact, the zoo is planning to open up a new tiger habitat in May this year!

The zoo also runs an organization known as the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy that helps save and protect wildlife around the world.  So lets support them as they help bring species from the brink of extinction...just click here and learn more (http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/)

The ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Now these zoos may not host a great number of tiger populations but they are doing something incredible!

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity and founded in 1826 whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. This society runs two zoos, the London and Whipsnade zoos that are actively involved in conserving species around the world. One of the species that they care for is the tiger.

The London Zoo is home to two Sumatran tigers and recently, three new tiger cubs were born! As this species is critically endangered, this is pretty big news for tiger conservationists around the world. This zoo has recently done something really awesome for these tigers. They have re-created a sort of habitat for them called Tiger Territory with a floor-to-excelling glass windows filled with drawings of these beautiful tigers. And since they are excellent climbers, the team of tiger keepers have put up exhibit features of tall trees for them to scale including high feeding poles to encourage their predatory behaviors. This exhibit was meant to mimic the island of Sumatra. Awesome, right?

The Tiger Territory will enable ZSL breed tigers at this zoo and be able to learn more on these creatures. This will in turn help to create awareness and help people to understand their role in their conservation. It will also help fund ZSL's tiger conservation.

Equally, the Whipsnade Zoo hosts a number of Amur tigers. ZSL has been involved in the conservation of the Amur tigers since 1995. This project is focused on population monitoring, anti-poaching efforts and increasing education and awareness. And because of their effort, the population of this tiger is as of now more stable than any other tiger species. You can learn more about this here...http://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/asia/amur-leopard-and-tiger-conservation.

I have spent a considerable amount of time making my pick among numerous zoos around the world that host tigers and are involved in tiger conservation and awareness. This is just a small part of this larger group of guys out there looking out for the tiger. And I thank God for them.

Cheers to tiger heroes in zoos all over the world!

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

Hey Readers,
So, this series will be about tiger conservation efforts all over the world. And for our first section, we'll talk about the tiger's new home.

The Tiger's New Home

In the previous articles on the tiger species, we spoke of how these creatures have been driven out of their natural habitats. And so this has led to them acquiring new homes in zoos, reserves, sanctuaries and national parks spread all over the world. Let's define these places, shall we.

Zoo
A zoo according to the Oxford dictionary is defined as an establishment which maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation or display to the public.

Reserve
A reserve is defined as a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities fr study or research.

Sanctuary
A sanctuary is a naturally-occurring refuge, protected area or geographic territory such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition.

National Park
A national park is usually defined as a tract of land declared public property by a national government with a view to its preservation for purposes of recreation and culture due to its notable scenic, environmental or historical importance.

So all these places seem to have one thing in common. Their goal is to conserve and protect species that could be otherwise endangered for purposes of preservation.

Now that we know what these places are, in the next chapter of this series, we'll find out where they are around the world. Of course we cannot possibly look at each and every one of these new homes but maybe the ones that have had the greatest impact on tiger conservation.

Extinct Tiger Species: Part 3

The Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata)

The last of the three extinct species is the Caspian tiger. It was also referred to as the Hyrcanian or Turanian tiger. This species is believed to have gone extinct in the 1970s. It was last spotted in 1968 near the Aral River. Interestingly, it was believed to have been a subspecies of the Siberian tiger. And actually, recent genetic research conducted in Oxford University suggests that the Caspian tiger may be the same subspecies as the Siberian tiger. The Caspian tiger inhabited west and south of the Caspian Sea in Turkey and Iran and Central Asia, including parts of the Takla Makan desert in Xinjiang, China.  

This tiger was the third largest tiger species and had a stocky build with wide paws and unusually long claws. It had thick fur around its face and closely resembled the Bengal tiger in colour. It had a short ear, furry cheeks and long hair all over its body. Male tigers were believed to weigh between 169-240 kgs while females weighed between 85-135 kgs. The extinction of this species is believed to have been due to direct hunting, habitat loss and conversion to agriculture, increased vulnerability of small populations and loss of wild prey. The loss of this species was a huge loss to the people of Asia due to the huge connection that their culture has to the Caspian tiger and this can still be found in their literature and artwork. Today, no Caspian tiger lives in captivity. It was thus declared extinct by IUCN in 2003.

In order to understand how this beautiful creature came to be completely terminated, we'll need to show a few disturbing facts. Now, in the early 20th century, the Russian government began an effort to eradicate the Caspian tiger in conjunction with an extensive land reclamation project. The Russian army was instructed to kill all tigers found in Caspian Sea and sure enough, this extermination effort was effective. Luckily, in 1947, before they were completely wiped out, tigers were declared a protected species in the USSR. In Iran, these tigers have been protected since 1957 but biologists having surveyed the Caspian remote forests found no trace of the tigers. 

A ray of hope for us though is that Kazakhstan is now working on a plan to reintroduce the Siberian tiger into their former range. We may not be able to bring back this creature to life, but we, like Kazakhstan can ensure that the remaining tiger species have a place they can call home once again, don't you think?

Extinct Tiger Species: Part 2

The Balinese (Bali) Tiger (Panthera tigris balica)

The Balinese (Bali) Tiger was the smallest among all subspecies of the tiger weighing between 140-220 pounds. Like the Javan tiger, this species resided in the Island of Bali in Indonesia. It is said to have been a darker orange color with fewer stripes and occasional small black spots. It is also known to have had a curious dark band on its head that is not seen in today's species.It was the top predator in this region hence played a huge role in maintaining the balance of other species in the island. It's primary food source was the wild boar, deer, monkeys, fowl and monitor lizards. Since these species were few, hence rare, this presented a severe threat to them. On the right is an artist's attempt at drawing the Bali tiger. Isn't it sad that the only available photo ( i opted not to display it here) of this animal is one where it has been captured and killed?

This tiger was considered extinct way back in the 1940s! And this was attributed to the fact that there weren't any types of protection against hunting them then. So, these tigers were hunted for sport, to protect livestock, as museum collection and as sick as this sounds now, for food. Their habitats were also cleared for developmental activities. None of the Balinese tigers are known to have ever been in captivity. Sad, isn't it?

Bali tigers were last recorded form the western part of Indonesia in 1937 where the last remaining one was said to have been shot in Western Bali. The Bali National Park was established in 1941. While there were claims of surviving Bali species by the end of World War II, no recorded sightings have been made. The island is small in size hence once humans-tiger interactions began to increase, the fate of this creature was sealed! The Balinese tiger was officially declared extinct by the IUCN in 2003.

The Javan and Balinese tigers are said to have been of the same species and two theories are often told of how they came to be apart. Despite these theories, these tigers both have different and touching stories that should never happen to any of the 6 remaining species. Tiger education and awareness coupled with heavy funding are the only hope that the tiger has.We need only to take a look at those tiger species no longer with us to realize that the low numbers of existing tiger species is a wake up call! Will you heed to the call and help save them?

Extinct Tiger Species: Part 1

In the following series, i will be discussing about the 3 tiger species that have gone extinct. And by the way,when a species goes extinct,it means that the last individual of this species has died and any efforts to recover this species has been lost by this point. Ouch, right? And just so you know, of the 44,838 species in the world now, an estimated 905 species have gone extinct and 16,928 are currently endangered. Shocking, right?

Recovered yet?

You never really do...So, here's the story of one of these 'fallen' creatures.

The Javan Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)
The Javan Tiger is the most recent subspecies of the tiger to become extinct. And by recent, i mean by the 80s this creature was no more...Unbelievable, right? This tiger was eradicated from the Island of Java by the 1940s and was last reported to have been spotted in the Meru Betiri National Park in Indonesia in 1976. Their extinction has been attributed to direct hunting, habitat loss and depletion of prey.It is thus listed by the IUCN Red List as Extinct.

These tigers had long and narrow stripes with an equally long and narrow nose; they were similar to the Sumatran tiger in appearance. The male species weighed between 100-140 kgs and females weighed between 75-115 kgs.

These species were only found in the island of Java. FYI, this island is the most populous in the world with a population of 141 million as of 2012. No wonder they did not stand a chance! These species were so common in this area that they were considered as 'pests' and thus hunted mercilessly and even poisoned. Talk about rubbing off badly...

In  the 40s, efforts to preserve these species were futile as the small reserves that were set up were not large enough and prey species too few. Since their extinction, some people have made sightings of this tiger...wouldn't it be awesome though if we could find even one! However, no direct proof shows that this species exists at all and in 2003, it was officially announced by IUCN that they were undoubtedly extinct!

So, since humanity watched as this species was totally wiped out, the remaining 6 species are all in jeopardy to suffer the same fate. Considering all the 6 species are endangered, this may not be too far from reality unless we do something! Anyone feel me?

Tiger Species: Part 7

Hey Readers!
I hope you have enjoyed reading these articles as i have enjoyed writing them. So, today i thought i would be talking about the extinct species of the tiger, however, i thought it necessary to first talk about the White Tiger. Am sure you have seen one on documentaries and wondered, are they albino tigers? Well, here's your answer. It might surprise you.

The White (Bengal) Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
First of all, this is not a species of the tiger but rather, a rare form of the Bengal tiger that possesses a double recessive gene which gives it a lighter appearance. So, no, they are not albino tigers! Though you must admit, they are undeniably mysterious creatures and yes, they stand out!

The white tiger has blue eyes, rose-pink noses and light-brown or grey stripes that make it distinctive from its rust-colored peers. This rare form of genetic make-up occurs naturally once in 10,000 births. There have however been no sightings of white tigers in the wild for the past 50 years! They are now found in zoos and sanctuaries. Sadly, these creatures are being bred by exhibitioners who perform in-breeding between father and daughter, mother and son or brother and sister. This causes mutations that lead to deformations such as club feet, cleft palates, defective organs and spinal deformities. Furthermore, this gene causes the optic nerve to be wired to the wrong side of the brain, hence making them cross-eyed. It is listed by the IUCN Red List as Endangered with less than 200 worldwide.

White tigers are solitary animals who hunt at night and feed on wild deer, boars and livestock. They are incredibly fast, powerful and are good swimmers. The White tiger weighs up to 300 kgs and can grow to be 3 meters long. It is found mostly in the Indian subcontinent and roam the forest and grasslands. They however are not well camouflaged in these areas and are usually hunted down for their white coats and as exotic pets. As they are quite popular and bring in more money, in-breeders and exhibitors have continued to unethically breed these tigers for tourism. You may call this the white tiger fraud. Luckily, a programme called Species Survival Plan run by Dr. Ron Tilson was launched to help these innocent creatures by banning zoos from in-breeding as it played no role in their conservation.

There may not be much to say about this majestic tiger, but there is much to do to protect it from unethical acts of breeding and poaching that causes it to be endangered. Let's remember, we are their only voice!

Great Weekend! Cheers. :)

Tiger Species: Part 6

The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)
So, the final of all surviving 6 species of the tiger is the Indochinese Tiger. And as we learnt yesterday, the Malayan tiger was once thought to be the same as the Indochinese tiger. As much as they are similar, they both have different stories.

This species of the tiger also known as Corbett's tiger was named after the British hunter-turned conservationist, Jim Corbett. Now this here is an interesting twist of events! In the early 1900s, Corbett, a Colonel in the British Army, and a great hunter, was summoned to India on many occasions to assist in hunting down tigers and leopards that were attacking villagers. Though he was initially involved in hunting these ''problematic'' cats down, he dedicated most of his life and career in raising support for environmental and animal conservation movements. Thus, it was in honor of his work, that this tiger was named after him. Now, isn't that just awesome.

A full grown male weighs an average of 330-430 pounds while the females weigh about 290 pounds. They also grow to be 8-10 feet in length. The stripes on this tiger are much narrower compared to other species and their coats are a vibrant orange.

This tiger is found in Myanmar, Laos, Southern China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Sadly, these tigers have retreated to isolated mountainous areas due to habitat loss caused by humans invading their habitats. Unfortunately, not much research has been able to be done on this creature and little is known about them overall as they are known to live along borderlines making reaching them quite difficult.As a result, much is still yet to be learned about their status in the wild.

There are roughly 350 of these tigers in the wild and are currently categorized as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. These tigers face threats from humans as they continue to venture into their habitats. They are also constantly under threat as their body parts are used to make Chinese traditional medicine that they believe has kept their people alive for centuries...there is no changing their mind is there? Still, how sad is it that no Indochinese tiger has been seen in the wild in China since 2007?

In fact, WWF sounded the alarm for this tiger in 2010 as their population had fallen by more than 70% in slightly more than a decade. Still, many efforts to protect these tigers in their natural habitats are underway. Other programs are in the forefront of ensuring their genetic pool is made stronger for breeding purposes. All these efforts, by so many people the world over, gives me hope that the next generation will get to see and not read about the great tiger in story books!

Tiger Species: Part 5

The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)
Now, this tiger, believe it or not, had no identity until 2004! Talk about identity crisis...In fact, it was labelled as the Indochinese tiger until DNA testing showed it a separate subspecies. It was then named Panthera tigris jacksoni in honor of the famous tiger conservationist, Peter Jackson.

The Malayan and Indochinese tigers resemble one another except the Malayan is smaller in size. The male tiger weighs about 120 kgs while the female weighs about 100 and grows to an average length of between 6-7ft.

The Malayan tigers number around 500 and are found in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula and Thailand. The Malayan tiger feeds on deer and livestock. Hence, the biggest threat to their existence is human-tiger conflict as they are killed by farmers using live wire snares. Other threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, agricultural logging and other human developments. It is classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.

Efforts to increase their numbers in Malaysia has led to setting up of a breeding facility where they have been successfully bred and the cubs sent out to zoos around the world. This is a great achievement in steps to help increase this tiger population. However, one concern is that the wild tigers reside in unprotected areas. Effective mapping of these areas and tightening laws on illegal killing should be considered by governments around the world. This way, we can help restore this species and help it roam freely, once again.

Tiger Species: Part 4

The South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)
This species of the tiger is by far, the most endangered species, making it among the top ten most endangered animals in the world today. In fact, it is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. There are claims that there remains only a handful of these tigers in the wild. However, scientists have now termed this creature as 'functionally extinct' as none has been spotted in the wild in the past 25 years! Existing tigers numbering about 50 are now found in 18 reserves and zoos around China! Truly sad, isn't it?

This tiger, once found in Central and Eastern China was severely hunted. There were over 4000 of them in the 1940s and by the 70s, their numbers had reduced to a mere 100! While this tiger was given nominal protection in the 70s, poaching continued where most of their body parts were used to make traditional Chinese medicine. Increased human populations and agriculture have continued to alter these creatures habitats. Most of these tigers were hunted as they had come to live too near to the human population and were considered a nuisance as they preyed on the farmers livestock as food.

The South China tiger is the second smallest species of the tiger with a bright orange coat and black stripes on its body. It also spots a few white areas on its face, belly and legs. A full grown male is said to weigh about 330-390 pounds at about 8 feet. The females are smaller weighing about 250 pounds at about 7.5 feet. One distinctive feature of this tiger is that its stripes are spaced further apart than any other species! These tigers feed mostly on livestock and wild pigs and was often able to catch its prey only when in water. Of course, this hunting strategy would only work if the tiger is faster than the animal its hunting!

In the year 2000, a trust fund called Save China's Tiger charity was founded in London in an effort to bring this creature from the brink of extinction. This and several other agencies work effortlessly to revive this creature and with thanks to several reserves and zoos in China, this creature, despite its minimal numbers can yet survive another day. Let's salute these real heroes of the South China tiger!

Tiger Species: Part 3

The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
The Bengal tiger, also known as the Royal Bengal tiger is the second largest tiger sub-species and is the most numerous of all tigers...as ironic as it sounds! With 2500 of them left in the wild, they live primarily in India with smaller populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Burma. This is one unique tiger as they have orange coats with either brown or black stripes and each cat has its own unique stripped patterns and may I add a white belly! They weigh around 550 pounds and grow to be about 10 feet long. The average weight for males is 221.2 kg while that of females is 139.7 kg. Interestingly, the white tiger (i'll talk about them real soon) is a recessive mutant of the Bengal tiger.

They live in a variety of habitats, including the cold Himalayan forests, the hills of Indian Peninsula, the wet forests of Northern India, the arid forests of the Rajasthan and the mangroves of the Sundarbans; the only mangrove forest where tigers are found. However, due to the rise in sea levels as a result of climate change, the Sundarbans are increasingly being threatened. Bengal tigers feed on deer, pigs, wild cattle, young elephants, antelopes and buffaloes. An interesting fact, the roar of the Bengal tiger can be heard from two miles away!

Though the creation of India's tiger reserves in the 1970s helped stabilize their numbers, poaching in the recent years has once again put them at risk. In addition, from the year 1997 to 2006, Bengal tigers are thought to have lost more than 50% of their habitat with their largest decrease in India. They are classified under the IUCN Red List as Endangered.

Did you know that the Bengal tiger is the national animal for both India and Bangladesh? Yet, sadly, poaching is rampant in these regions. The main threats facing these creatures is poaching and habitat loss. There's so much we can do to help these lovely creatures, we just have to identify what it is. And if by writing these articles, i help save even one tiger, I will be so very content.

An interesting fact for you movie lovers...in the Life of Pi...the tiger was a Bengal tiger :)

Happy Weekend and thanks again readers!

Tiger Species: Part 2

The Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Contrary to his brother, the Sumatran, this tiger is the largest sub-species of the tiger...which makes them the largest cats in the world! It is also known as the Amur tiger, named after the Amur River, weighing between 300 and 600 pounds and can grow to be as long as 10.5 feet! They are located in northeast China, eastern Russia and parts of North Korea. They are restricted to the mountainous areas and sadly, away from humans. They are extremely fast, strong and powerful and are used as symbols in many cultures... no wonder most poachers want them in their possession!

Adult males can weigh up to 320 kgs while female tigers weigh up to 180 kgs. They feed on the elks, boars, bears and deer that inhabit the region. They closely resemble other tigers though with a lighter shade of orange and lesser but colorful stripes. However, they have a thick layer of fur that can be as thick as 4 inches! They have extra fur on their neck and in their paws which helps them to keep warm. These tigers can feed on up to 9 kgs of meat in one sitting and usually need to hunt often as few of their hunts are successful.

Now this is one tiger that has had it rough! In the 1940s, hunting had driven them to the brink of extinction with only about 40 individuals remaining. Thankfully, rigorous efforts in the 1980s by Russia were able to grant the tiger full protection propelling its numbers to about a stable 450. Although poaching increased after the collapse of the Soviet Union, conservation efforts by WWF and other agencies have helped keep their number stable for the past decade. Interestingly, the Cold War protected them from being hunted as access to the forest was restricted. They are however classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.

The biggest threat that faces this tiger is poaching, human-tiger conflict and habitat destruction. They are hunted mostly for making traditional Chinese medicine and as trophies. Despite several efforts being done to curb poaching and conserve their habitats, it's sad to see how bad choices by our kind has been detrimental to the survival of this magnificent creature.

This begs the question, what can i do about this?

That's right...let's support campaigns in the forefront of saving our tigers!

Remember, you are the voice of the magnificent tiger!

Tiger Species: Part 1

So...i'd like us to look deeply into each of the tiger species and possibly be able to learn a thing or two. I had mentioned that there are 5 existing species, However, some research I've read shows there are currently 6 species...which includes the Malayan Tiger. So, for the next couple of days, i'll talk about these 6 remaining species and then crown this series by talking about the extinct species.

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae )
The Sumatran Tiger is named after the Sumatra Islands where they exist in the entire Indonesia. According to the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature); a conservation status for species that indicates whether they are extant (still alive) and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future, the species is categorized as Critically Endangered. Harsh, right?

The Sumatran tiger is sadly at the brink of extinction with around 400 tigers left and therefore making efforts toward conserving them very intense. They are the smallest of all living subspecies of the tiger and interestingly so because they adapt to the dense forests of the Sumatra with less habitat than other tigers. Adult males weigh between 100 and 140 kgs and females weigh between 75 and 110 kgs. They grow to a length of up to 8 feet giving them a slender appearance. One distinctive thing about them is that the stripes on their body are closer together than any other species and have more hair on the face than other species. They are also extremely fast swimmers due to webbing in their feet...Nice, right? And that's not all, they have white spots on the back of their ears which confuses their prey and protects them from predators. No wonder they stand out!

The main threat facing this species is habitat destruction by humans paving way land for agriculture and infrastructure. The other reason for their near extinction is due to the rampant illegal wildlife market whereby their body parts are sold as traditional Chinese medicine. A study by Shepherd and Magnus in 2004 revealed that a minimum 50 Sumatran tigers were killed annually between 1998-2002, with app. 76% killed for trade and 15% due to human-tiger conflicts. Sad, isn't it?

With continued efforts the world over to try and lift up this species from near extinction, we need to pose and ask what we can do. I know what am doing about it. What about you reader?

Tiger Cubs

Hey Readers,

I sure hope you've enjoyed my first 3 articles...Kindly +1, like, favorite or comment and i will happily reply.

Now, more on tigers...

So, i was doing a bit of reading on tiger cubs. Here's a photo...so adorable, don't you think? 

Female tigers give birth about once every two years to an average of 3 cubs. Interestingly, cubs are born blind, only obtaining full vision after a couple of weeks and are completely dependent on their mother for survival.  They weigh between 785 and 1610 grams. The cubs, having been raised solely by their mothers, stay with her until they are two years old as she teaches them how to hunt and protect themselves. Sadly, only about half of those born survive to reach maturity for one reason or the other. However, if a litter dies, the female tiger can be able to produce another litter within 5 months...Just want to put a smiley right there!

By nature, tiger cubs are rather active and spend their days playing with one another and rolling around in mock fighting. They feed on milk until they are two months old, and thereafter their mother will begin teaching them how to hunt for their own prey. Female tigers nurse their cubs up to 6 months of age and thereafter, the cubs begin accompanying her on hunts. As a matter of fact, they become accomplished hunters by the time they are 18 months old! Cool..ha?

As you may have guessed, male cubs are more adventurous than their female siblings, which sadly accounts for the survival rate of female cubs being higher. Major threats to young cubs include predators, fires and floods. However, as they get older, they face being killed or injured during training or hunting. Female cubs tend to find personal territories close to their mothers while the male cubs wander further away from her. I guess that's the trend for all creatures, right?!

Did you always wonder why a mother tiger licked her cubs endlessly? Turns out, she does this to stimulate the cubs circulation and bowel movements! And as disgusting as this sounds, she may even go to lengths of eating her cub's faeces in order to protect them from potential predators detecting their scents! How great a love is that?

I guess when I think about how much mother tigers cares for her cubs, I cannot help but appreciate them more...Cheers to all mother tigers!

Tiger's Habitats

So today, i was researching tiger's habitats...

Did you know that tigers are sensitive  to heat...that's why they never live too far from water so they can swim and cool down...that's their brand of sunscreen!

Might i add that they are perfect swimmers!

Tiger's live in both tropical and temperate forests as well as in swamps.  They live in places that have tall grass, trees and bushes as they require shelter from the sun as well as to camouflage from potential prey. These surrounding also helps protect the female tiger and her cubs. I guess now you can see why tiger's need their habitat intact!

Tigers that live in cold areas are usually bigger and heavier than those that live in tropical habitats...of course the same way polar bears are heavy weights against their brother's the grizzly bears!

Asia is home to these lovable creatures ranging from India, the lower parts of the Himalayas, the mangrove swamps of West Bengal and the dense vegetation in the Far East. Tigers, despite their high adaptability are slowly running out of time...they were made to roam their lands and this is why humans encroaching their lands gives them few options.

That's why we need to support parks and natural reserves that are the 'safe haven' of several tigers. These parks in Africa, Europe and America help to protect and conserve them and therefore help to create awareness about these magnificent creatures.



This article is dedicated to the brave men and women in the forefront of championing programmes that help keep our tigers safe to live another day!

The Tiger Story Continued...

So, here are a few more facts on the tiger...

The scientific name for the tiger is Panthera tigris. There are currently 5 sub-species of the tiger; Bengal, South China, Indochinese, Sumatran, and Siberian. Three subspecies of the tiger; the Caspian, Bali, and Javan are sadly extinct.

On a lighter note, here's something most of you might not know about tigers...there are no tigers with identical markings! Interesting, right? Yeah, the same way each of us is unique, is the same way tigers are unique in their identity.

Now, we previously talked about how much tigers eat in one sitting, but something more interesting is they can take days till they finish, always covering their food with leaves and dirt and returning to eat till its finished! Talk about table manners...!

Tigers are not choosy animals, they eat both small and large animals ranging from turtles and frogs, as well as the buffalo and large deer. I guess that's why they can survive in captivity for up to 26 years!

There are several other interesting facts about tigers that if we actually take time to know about, we will all be at the lead in conserving them.

The Tiger Story

First of all, am a lover of the big cat, the tiger!
I have never seen one in a zoo or national park, but i fell in love with them just the same.
See, they are beautiful, most powerful and often misunderstood creatures.
I am here to write their story.

Tigers are the largest of the big cats... guess that makes them king by size! It consumes quite a lot of meat at a go...up to 40 kgs!

God made all things for us to care for, yet, tigers keep vanishing by the minute! Its deeply saddening. However, i am hopeful that all the work being done by many agencies the world over to conserve and protect the tiger is and will continue to bear fruit. However, am not convinced we're doing our best. Currently, according to a WWF report, there are as few as 3200 tigers in existence today, meaning we have lost 97% of our tigers...Ouch! I will not lose hope though, but i will be content the day i hear that their population has increased even by 10!

So, here's to the first of many of 'The Tiger Story'!