The Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is one of the smallest subspecies of remaining three species of Tigers ( The Bengal Tiger (India), The Siberian Tiger (Russia), The Sumatran Tiger (Indonesia). It is found on the Indonesian Island of Sumatra.

It is a critically endangered animal whose unique genetic markers differenciate it from almost all the remaining mainland species.
There are merely just 400 - 500 Tigers left in the wild.

Male Sumatran tigers measure around 204 cm (6 feet, 8 inches) in length from head to tail and weigh about 136 kg (300 lb). Females measure averagely around 198 cm (6 feet, 6 inches) in length and weigh about 91 kg (200 lb).

It has narrower stripes than the other tigers. And the males are more bearded and maned than the other species. Its small size is perfectly suited for moving about in the dense jungle of Sumatra, where it lives .
Sumatran Tigers have webbing between their foot that spreads out when it swims making it an fast and adept swimmer.This is because it is sometimes known to drive animals with hoofs into the water while preying, especially if the animal is a slow swimmer.

Its habitat ranges from lowland forests to sub-mountain and mountain-forests, including peat swamp forests . Much of its habitat is unprotected, with only about 400 living in game reserves and national parks. The largest population of about 110 tigers lives in Gunung Leuser National Park . Another 100 live in unprotected areas which are being converted for agriculture .

Deforestation resulting from the production of Palm Oil is a major threat to the Sumatran Tiger. The reserves also do not provide safety, as many many tigers are killed by poachers each year despite conservation efforts. According to the Tiger Information Centre and the World Wildlife Fund there are no more than 500 remaining Sumatran Tigers in the wild, with some estimates considerably lower.

In 2006 the Indonesia Forestry Service, the Natural Resources and Conservational Agency (BKSDA) and the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program sat down with commercial concession holders and Asia Pulp & Paper and set the foundations for the Senepis Buluhala Tiger Sanctuary, an area that covered 106,00 hectares in Riau by 2008. These organizations formed The Tiger Conservation Working Group with other interested parties and the project is recognised as a pioneering initiative. Current studies include the identifying of feeding behavior of tigers to develop strategies that will help protect both tigers and human settlements.

In 2007, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry and Safari Park established cooperation with the Australian Zoo for the conservation of Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species. The cooperation agreement was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent on 'Sumatran Tiger and other Endangered Species Conservation Program and the Establishment of a Sister Zoo Relationship between Taman Safari and Australia Zoo' at the Indonesian Forestry Ministry office on July 31, 2007. The program includes conserving Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species in the wild, efforts to reduce conflicts between tigers and humans and rehabilitating Sumatran Tigers and reintroducing them to their natural habitat.

The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem , Israel is part of an international matchmaking program designed to mate Sumatran tigers and save them from extinction.

The continuing loss of habitat is intensifying the crisis to save this tiger.

INDIA'S MOST MAJESTIC ANIMAL
LET US ALL MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT LIVE IN HELL
JOIN HANDS TOGETHER , AND WE SHALL SHOUT
"SAVING TIGERS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT"

A Few Causes for it's endangerament

Highly adaptable, tigers range from the Siberian taiga, to open grasslands, to tropical mangrove swamps. They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the nine subspecies of modern tiger, three are extinct and the remaining six are classified as endangered, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction and fragmentation, and hunting. Their historical range once stretched from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus through most of South and East Asia. Today it has been radically reduced. While all surviving species are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression continue to threaten the species.

The Name called Tiger

The word "tiger" is taken from the Greek word "tigris", which is possibly derived from a Persian source meaning "arrow", a reference to the animal's speed and also the origin for the name of the Tigris river. In American English, "Tigress" was first recorded in 1611. It was one of the many species originally described, as Felis tigris, by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae. The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera tigris, is often presumed to derive from Greek pan- ("all") and theron ("beast"), but this may be a folk etymology. Although it came into English through the classical languages, panthera is probably of East Asian origin, meaning "the yellowish animal," or "whitish-yellow."

A group of tigers is rare, but when seen together is termed a 'streak' or an 'ambush'.

Tiger Trivia

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera.^[4] Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore. Reaching up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids. Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognisable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The most numerous tiger subspecies is the Bengal tiger while the largest subspecies is the Siberian tiger.

Tigers are among the most recognizable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags and coats of arms, as mascots for sporting teams, and as the national animal of several Asian nations, including India.

Tigers, the pride of India. Pride of every Indian. Envy of others.
The most powerful, majestic and regal animal in India is being desecrated at an alarming rate.

Just 1408 Tigers left Ladies and Gentlemen,
Take an Initiative now
Take a stand now
Lets fight for the Tiger
Let us all join hands and stand against poaching of the Tigers
Let us all say together :

TIGERS THE PRIDE OF INDIA