Transcript mes.gcs.k12.al.us - Welcome to Gadsden City Schools

Tigers in Trouble
By Callie Cochran
100 years ago there were 8 different kinds of tigers
(subspecies) - there were over 100,000 wild tigers in the
world. Today, there are only 5 tiger subspecies left and
there are fewer than 7,000 wild tigers in the world. The
main threats to tigers are poaching, loss of habitat, and
population fragmentation. There are United States and
International policies and legislations in place to protect the
Tigers such as The Captive Wildlife Safety Act and,
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act. The following slides
show the remaining 5 tiger subspecies and information
about each. We found this information on the internet on a
web site called Tigers in Trouble at www.5tigers.org.
Amur
The Amur tiger is sometimes called the Siberian, Manchurian, Ussurian,
or Northeast China tiger. Amur tigers live mainly in the forests of
eastern Russia. A few Amur tigers are found in northeastern China and
northern North Korea. Researchers think that there are between 350 and
400 wild Amur tigers in the world today.
Amur tigers are the biggest cats in the world. Males can grow to be
10’9” long and weigh as much as 660 pounds. Females are smaller.
They measure about 8 ½’ from head to tail and weigh between 200 and
370 pounds.
Bengal
Bengal tigers live mainly in India, with smaller populations in southern
Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and western Myanmar. They live in a very
wide range of habitats and climates, ranging from hot and wet to very
dry and cold. Researchers believe that there are between 3,000 and 5,000
wild Bengal tigers living in the world today. Male Bengal tigers are
about 9 ½’ long from head to tail and weigh approximately 480 pounds.
Females are smaller. They are about 8 feet long and weigh approximately
300 pounds.
Indochinese
Indochinese tigers live mainly in Thailand but they are also found in
Myanmar, southern China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and peninsular
Malaysia. Tigers live in remote forests in hilly to mountainous
terrain. Much of their habitat lies along the borders between
countries. Researchers think that there are between 1,227–1,785
Indochinese tigers left in the in the world today. Male Indochinese
tigers are about 9’ long from head to tail and weigh up to 400 pounds.
Females are smaller. They weigh approximately 250 pounds and are
about 8’ long.
South China
Researchers do not know if there are any South China tigers left in the
wild. There are 21 reserves in tiger habitat, and Chinese specialists
believe that between 20 and 30 tigers are still left in these areas. The
South China tiger is the rarest of the five living tiger subspecies, the most
threatened, and the closest to extinction. The last time a South China
tiger was seen in the wild was 10 years ago and it is not known if any
wild tigers still exist. The South China tiger is one of the smallest tiger
subspecies. Male tigers are about 8’ long from head to tail and weigh
around 330 pounds. Females are smaller. They are approximately 7 ½’
feet long and weigh about 240 pounds.
Sumatran
Sumatran tigers live only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Their
habitat ranges from lowland forest to submountain and mountain forest
with some peat-moss forest. Researchers think that there about 400
Sumatran tigers in the wild today. They live mainly in the island's five
national parks. Sumatran tigers are the smallest tiger subspecies. Males
are about 8’ long from head to tail and weigh approximately 264 pounds.
Females are smaller. They are about 7’ long and weigh around 198
pounds.