loss of environmental protection
Tigers, being an endangered species, are sought to be protected by a variety of organisations. Consequently, by inhabiting an ecosystem, tigers provide an undeniable reason to additionally preserve the surrounding environment. For example, the World Wild Fund for Nature is able to protect approximately 100 square kilometres of land for each tiger. This not only benefits the preservation of tigers, but also assists in maintaining vital areas of the environment which serve as a habitat to a wide range of other species. However, without the presence of tigers in these environments, it is likely that the currently protected forests would be removed through methods such as illegal logging and human development. In Figure 3.b, the survey conducted states that majority of respondents rate the effectiveness of tiger protection as partially effective, highlighting that the conservation has not turned out as successful as the government had hoped. The environment is still being lost to illegal logging, and as evident in the graph more needs to be done in order for majority of the respondents to shift their vote from Partially Effective to Fully Effective.
Since 1970, the percentage of remaining forest cover in tiger habitats has fallen by over 30%, with the level prior to 1970 still far below the appropriate percentage, with roughly 37% of forest cover available. In addition to demonstrating the extent of habitat loss on the tiger population, it highlights the severity of the issue overall, with the global tiger population currently at a size of less than 5000, and expected to become extinct in the next 40 years.
Since 1970, the percentage of remaining forest cover in tiger habitats has fallen by over 30%, with the level prior to 1970 still far below the appropriate percentage, with roughly 37% of forest cover available. In addition to demonstrating the extent of habitat loss on the tiger population, it highlights the severity of the issue overall, with the global tiger population currently at a size of less than 5000, and expected to become extinct in the next 40 years.