Tigers in the Wild

    A hundred years ago, Asia was home to many tigers. They lived in jungles. They lived in grasslands. They hunted wild pigs and deer. They stalked their prey until they got close. Then they attacked. And they won.

    Tigers had one dangerous enemy. These enemies were slow. They had weak jaws and no claws. But they had bulldozers and guns. 

    With those weapons, humans have killed most of the tigers in the wild. In 1900, Asia had about 100,000 tigers. Today, there are fewer than 4,000. Can anything be done to keep tigers alive?

    A century ago, tigers ruled the jungles and grasslands across Asia. These ferocious cats hunted wild pigs and deer. They stalked their prey until they got close enough to attack, ending the chase with a burst of speed and a single bite to the neck.

    But there was one enemy that tigers couldn’t overcome. These enemies ran slowly and had weak jaws and no claws. But they had something more powerful: bulldozers and guns. 

    With those weapons, humans have nearly wiped out tigers in the wild. About 100,000 tigers roamed across Asia in the year 1900, but fewer than 4,000 are left today. Can anything be done to keep these majestic animals from becoming extinct?

    It’s hard to believe that such a mighty creature could be in danger of dying out. Tigers are the third largest meat-eaters on land. (Only brown bears and polar bears are bigger.) Siberian tigers can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh more than 600 pounds. 

    But tigers face many dangers in the wild. Cubs spend two years with their mothers before going off to live on their own. During that time, their mothers often have to leave them to hunt. 

    That puts the cubs in danger of attacks by wild dogs or other tigers. Sometimes the mothers can’t find enough food. Only half the cubs survive past the age of 2.

    Tigers are the third largest meat-eater on land. (Brown bears and polar bears are bigger. Elephants, rhinos, and hippos don’t eat meat.) Some tigers grow up to 13 feet long. They weigh 600 pounds or more. But tigers could be in danger of dying out.

    Tigers face many dangers in the wild. Baby tigers are called cubs. To hunt, mothers must leave their cubs. 

    That puts the cubs in danger. Wild dogs might attack the cubs. Other tigers could also attack them. Sometimes the mothers can’t find enough food. Only half the cubs live past age 2.

    It’s difficult to believe that such a powerful hunter could be in danger of dying out. Ranking just behind brown bears and polar bears, tigers are the third largest meat-eaters on land. Siberian tigers can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh 600 pounds or more. 

    But tigers face many dangers in the wild. Though cubs spend two years with their mothers before going off to live independently, their mothers often have to leave them to hunt. 

    Wild dogs and other tigers might attack the unguarded cubs. In addition, the mothers don’t always return to their cubs with enough food. Only half the cubs make it past the age of 2.

    The biggest threat to tigers is humans. In India, people have hunted tigers for at least 150 years. Some hunters killed for sport. Others wanted to protect villages from tiger attacks.

    Tigers have also lost most of their habitat. People have cleared the land for mines and farms. Tigers used to roam through a huge area. It was bigger than the United States. Now their total habitat is smaller than the state of Alaska.

    Today, hunting tigers is illegal. Still, poaching happens. That’s illegal hunting. Poachers kill tigers for their body parts. They sell the parts for a lot of money. The bones are used to make medicines. The skins are made into rugs.

    Though tigers face plenty of natural dangers, humans are by far their biggest threat. People have been hunting tigers in India for at least 150 years. Some killed for sport. Others were trying to protect their villages from tiger attacks.

    Loss of habitat due to humans clearing forests for mines and farms has also been deadly for tigers. The area they can freely roam through has shrunk from being bigger than the United States to smaller than the state of Alaska.

    Today it’s illegal to hunt tigers anywhere on the planet, but poaching—illegal hunting—is still a problem. Poachers kill tigers for their body parts, selling them for a lot of money. The bones are used to make medicines, and the skins are made into rugs.

    But there’s good news for wild tigers. India and other countries have created special areas for them. These areas are called reserves. Most people are kept out. 

    These countries are doing more to catch poachers too. The number of tigers in the wild has risen 30 percent in the past 10 years. 

    Tigers are not quite ruling the forests again. But they are making a comeback. 

    Recently, however, the news has been good for wild tigers. India and other countries have created special areas for tigers called reserves, where almost no human activity is allowed. 

    These countries are also increasing their efforts to catch poachers. As a result, the number of tigers in the wild has risen 30 percent in the past 10 years. 

    Tigers aren’t exactly ruling the forests again—but they’re certainly making a comeback.