Skip to content

Conservation

Tiger's death highlights concerns

by John Dean 28 Jul 2011
Tiger's death highlights concerns

It comes to something for a species when the death of a single animal can represent a disaster - but that's what has happed in Indonesia. The concern about the recent death of the Sumatran Tiger indicates wider concerns for a species that is now down to just 400 in the wild.

According to Greenpeace, the Sumatran Tiger was rescued after being caught in a trap on the border of an area used for extensive felling associated with the pulp and paper industry. Having been trapped for six days, it was found by forest officers but they were too late to save it.

The organisation says that the tiger was found in an area undergoing heavy disruption from tree felling and the assumption is that it had moved away from its home to escape the workmen.

Greenpeace says that the remaining 400 Sumatran tigers face danger because paper and pulp operations continue apace in Indonesia, destroying its hunting grounds.

There are similar concerns in India, which is home to more than half the world's tiger population, although there are signs suggesting the future looks a little more optimistic for a number of sub-species. Most recent estimate from the country's National Tiger Conservation Authority put the tiger population as low as 1,571 or as much as 1,875. In 2008, the tiger population figure stood at 1,411.

Although conservation work, including large protected areas, is having an effect, there do remain concerns about the impact on tiger habitats of activities such as mining, the construction of thermal and hydroelectric dams and poaching.

According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India, the country still holds the best chance for saving the tiger in the wild because 17 States have the animals with seven of them having more than 100.

The latest estimates from pressure group WWF for worldwide tiger numbers indicates that it may be as low as 3,200 although there have been some suggestions that the figure may be only 2,500.

In response to the crisis, WWF is working with a range of organisations to double numbers within eleven years. Indeed, last year, during the 2010 Year of the Tiger, Russia convened a meeting where leaders of the 13 countries that still have tigers committed to doubling the number of tigers.

According to WWF's mission statement on the subject: "We can save wild tigers. We are concentrating our efforts on protecting key landscapes where the big cats have the best chance of surviving and increasing over the long-term. Five decades of conservation experience has shown us that given enough space, prey and protection, tigers can recover."

The cost of failing in that goal is high; the Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers have all died out in the past 70 years and the six remaining sub-species - Amur, Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, South China, and Sumatran - live only in Asia, and are all under threat.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping