How Population Growth Effects the Bengal Tiger
Recently many animals have been driven to extinction. Now, the Bengal Tiger of India is on the verge of disappearing.. Although an endangered species, there are more Bengal tigers than any other kind, with a wild population of around 5,000 to 7,000. The Bengal Tiger of India lives in the Sate of Bengal, India. The State of Bengal is on the East Coast of India. The Bengal state has a long season of monsoons every year and hence thick lush jungles. It is in these jungles that the Bengal Tiger thrives.
The Bengal tiger is a beautiful animal because of the vibrant orange and black stripes in their coat. Bengal tigers also have white spots on the backside of each ear which help baby tigers to see their mothers. Without the spots, which are very visible against a black background, the stripes of a mother tiger would make them almost invisible to the blurry-eyed cubs. The Bengal tiger generally looks bigger and weighs more than other tigers.
Because of the extraordinary skin of the Bengal Tiger, many ruthless traders
hunt it. Though the Indian Government has banned hunting of the Bengal Tiger,
illegal hunting has caused the Bengal Tiger to be dangerously close to being
extinct. In addition to its beautiful skin, many Asian people believe tiger
bones and meat having healing powers. Even the US Government prohibited the
import of "medicines" that contain parts of tigers. Of course, as the
population of India and the world grows, so does the demand for tiger skin
and "medicines".
Following are vital statistics for Bengal Tigers:
| Weight | 396-583 lbs |
| Length Head/Body | 6.3 - 7.3' |
| Length Tail | 32-36" |
| Shoulder Height | 36-38" |
| Sexual Maturity | Male - 4-5 years; Female 3-4 years |
| Mating Season | Winter to spring |
| Number of young | 2 to 4 |
| Diet | Sambar deer, chital deer, water buffalo, wild pigs, monkeys |
What can we do to save the Bengal Tiger?
The World WildLife Fund is actively sponsoring preservation of the Bengal Tiger in India. In cooperation with Indian organizations and agencies, the WWF is funding more tight monitoring of the jungles of Bengal so as to make it difficult for illegal hunters to kill tigers. In addition, efforts are underway to preserve the natural habitats of the Bengal Tiger. Typically this means that jungles where the Bengal Tiger is found are conserved and cut down for wood. We can all help preserve the magnificent Bengal Tiger, a unique gift to mankind, by contributing annually to the WWF. We can all help save the Bengal Tiger by using the following link:
- Save the Tiger - online petition to the Indian Prime Minister, calling for action to protect the remaining Bengal tigers.
Click here to help save the Bengal Tiger!
These majestic beasts once roamed freely in India, eating and sleeping . . . playing and doing whatever they pleased, now they are confined in small sanctuaries always surrounded by people. The ever-growing population not only effects us, but other creatures on earth as well.