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Endangered Amur Tigers |
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Reasons For Endangerment |
There used to be eight species of tigers alive in the wild. Now three of them are extinct; gone forever. Three other species, like the Amur tiger, are critically endangered. There are an extimated 350 to 450 living Amur tigers alive in the wild. Not only has the tiger population decreased, but their range has too. Amur tigers used to live in much of Siberia, giving them the nickname "Siberian tigers." But now, there are no longer any tigers there due to rerduced range nor are they called by that name. Their current name comes from the Amur River which runs through the middle of their range in Russia. Logging is the main factor in habitat loss. It is also the biggest factor in the decrease of Amur tigers and other species. Amur tigers lose prey when they lose habitat, so they often turn to farm livestock as food. Farmers may shoot the tigers as pests and to protect their animals. Amur tigers are killed for other purposes besides habitat loss. They are hunted for their meat and skin by poachers and sold for lots of money. These tigers are also hunted for their bones, which is used in Chineese medicine, Poaching has taken a heavy toll on the Amur tiger population. |
