A Plea on Behalf of the Siberian Tigers to Save Their Species

Siberian tigers are the largest cats in the world, weighing 660 lbs (300 kg) and measuring 10.75 ft (3.3 m). They can be found mainly in the snowy regions of Russia, whereas others abide in China and North Korea. Renowned for their sheer strength and power, they prefer to lead solitary lives and scent-mark large territories to warn rivals to keep away. They are indeed very powerful nocturnal hunters and can walk several miles to find prey such as wild boar, elk and deer.

Although upon first glance of the naked eye, they may all appear to have the same stripes, but in-fact no two tigers actually carry the exact same stripes and wear their own distinct coats, using them as camouflage to skillfully hunt by sleuth, lying in waiting and then creeping close enough to attack their prey with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27.2 kilograms) in just one night, although they normally eat a lot less.

The Siberian tigresses can give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Their cubs are unable to hunt until they reach 18 months old and remain with their mothers for up to two to three years, when they roam off to find their own territory.

Contrary to their falsely depicted reputation as being savage man-eaters, most tigers are infact reclusive, preferring to avoid human contact. If they do come into contact, it is because humans are intruding into their territory and they are defending it as they would from all other species. These beautiful mammals are sadly often found sick and unable to hunt and lead a natural quality of life because their traditional prey is no longer there, so their food supplies are cut, due illegal human activities and interference, such as de-forestation and poaching.

Once there were up to eight sub-species, but during the 20th century, three became extinct. Now, there are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and recent surveys suggest that these numbers are stable. But their northern climate is far harsher than those of other tigers and these animals have something going in their favour like the Northern forests which fortunately offer them the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and the most complete ecosystem coupled with vast woodlands which also allow them far more area to roam, as Russia’s timber industry is thankfully less extensive compared with other countries.

Over the last century alone, ruthless hunting, poaching, slow poisoning for the fur industry, so as not to damage the tiger skins, and forest destruction have all reduced overall tiger populations from hundreds of thousands to a mere 5,000 to 7,000. Tigers are tragically hunted as trophies by the Chinese and North Koreans for their body parts which are used by them to make ‘traditional medicines’, so as a consequence of these unnatural acts, all five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered and their protection status has come under the heading of Endangered Species.

As things stand positively at the moment, in our efforts to save the endangered Siberian tigers, many conservation programs have been established to save the critically endangered Siberian tiger, whose numbers have dwindled to mere hundreds in the wild. Poaching is reduced but still a very significant threat to Siberian tigers. In-fact, most Siberian tigers can now be observed as zoo exhibits, used to breed in a plan known as SSP, or Species Survival Plan, a breeding programmes based on 83 tigers which were captured for this cause. And now, as a result, there are presently 160 Siberian tigers in the SSP alone.

To find out more how we can make our own personal contribution to help save these beautiful, dignified and noble mammals species, keep in touch with their current status, as well as other species on the endangered list, it would definately be a very sensible and humanitarian decision to become a life member of WWF, without any hesitation, as soon as possible, or ideally, right away!