Tiger (Bengal) - Threats to the Bengal Tiger

The clearance of forests, an increasing human population and a greater demand for tiger products have all contributed to the tiger's decline. Most tigers are now protected and living in reserves, so the destruction of their habitat is not so great a danger, but as tigers become rarer, the value of a dead tiger has increased. A single tiger might be worth several thousand dollars on the black market by the time its skin, bones and organs have been sold to dealers. It is thought that the illegal trade in tiger parts brings in several million dollars per year, so it is a very serious problem.

India's National Parks are being mismanaged, and there are not enough guards to stop the poaching of tigers. The guards are also very badly equipped, which means that if they do come across any poachers, the poachers are likely to be far better armed than the guards anyway. This makes life very dangerous for the guards and a great deal easier for the poachers.

Even villagers are prepared to have a go at poaching. The rewards are huge, and punishments are not severe enough. Tigers are rarely killed with guns, as a bullet hole affects the value of the skin. Instead they are baited with poisoned meat, which means that the tigers die a slow and agonising death which sometimes takes several days.

Tiger parts are used extensively in Chinese medicine. They are thought to help cure rheumatism, scabies and boils amongst other things, but there is no medical evidence to support these claims. It is to China and Taiwan that most illegal tiger parts are sold. India could make money each year from tourists who come to India specially to see wild tigers. More than is made by the illegal trade in tiger parts, yet still people are prepared to kill them. In a few years time, there could be no tigers at all, which would mean that India would get no income whatsoever from tigers, so protecting tigers now is economically as well as morally correct.

In April 2016, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Global Tiger Forum reported that tiger numbers worldwide had shown an increase for the first time in 100 years.  There are now thought to be over 3,000 tigers living in India alone. Latest estimates (from September 2023) suggest that there are a total of 5,574 tigers of all types living in the wild today.