ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[Apex Titan]

(05-02-2024, 07:50 PM)TheHyenid76 Wrote: All correct @Apex Titan but my friend that does not mean 'less charismatic' species should be neglected. Neglect of smaller carnivores like fishing cats can lead to ignorance about them which leads to conflict with humans. Fishing cat-Human conflict is rising in Bangladesh. Even the humble porcupine and the golden jackal plays an important role in the ecosystem.

I totally agree with you, every single animal plays an important role in an ecosystem. Even insects and rodents play an important role. However, wildlife ecologists and biologists focus primarily on conserving large apex predators like tigers because this particular apex species plays a far greater role and has a much bigger and important impact on the ecosystem.

Look at it this way. In all tiger habitats throughout their range, if leopards went extinct, the ecosystem will still thrive because tigers are there. If bears (brown bears, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, sun bear) went extinct, the ecosystem will still thrive because other ungulates like wild boars will consume the pine nuts, acorns, plants and scavenge on carcasses, and deer and bovines will consume the vegetation. So other ungulates and omnivores will still play the role of a bear. If dholes, wolves, crocodiles and jackals went extinct, the ecosystem will still thrive because tigers are there.

Now, if tigers went extinct, it would be devastating for the ecosystem. For reasons I already explained in my previous post. 

Tigers are the 'saviour' of the ecosystem. This is why biologists and ecologists tend to focus mostly on the conservation of tigers.

Having said that, I do think that more studies should also be conducted on other species too. But I can see why the focus is mainly on tigers. Reply