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

[peter]

GREATEARTH

Here's a response to your last posts.

1 - Leopards  

I don't mind discussing captive tigers and other big cats every now and then, but questions about leopards that take quite a bit of research do not belong in a thread dedicated to tigers.

The posts on Mr. Limouzin's skull were the exception. The aim of these posts was to inform Wikipedia. Those who wrote about the leopard stated the skull of Mr. Limouzin belonged to a very large male Indian leopard. This is incorrect. It was the skull of a young adult tigress.        

2 - Indo-Chinese tigers

Sully recently posted about the situation in southeast Asia. Same for me. This thread. The conclusion is tigers are gone in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. 

Guate recently posted good information about the size of tigers in Thailand. A few years ago, I posted reliable records of tigers shot in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar.  

3 - Politics 

Forum rules say politics should be avoided. One reason is posts on politics are often based on opinions. This can result in incomplete information and incorrect conclusions. Another is they often result in animosity.         

4 - Colonization, conservation and poaching

There's no question that colonization had few positive results for those subjected to foreign rulers. In most cases, it resulted in exploitation, abuse, slavery, poverty and a loss of dignity. Borders often were a result of arbitrary decisions. When the colonizers left, severe problems erupted. Some of these had lasting (and devastating) effects. 

In most occupied countries hunting was popular. So much so, that regulation was needed. This is why conservation was on the agenda in British India in the first decades of the previous century. When the British left, the situation quickly deteriorated. When tigers had all but disappeared, India decided to act. In most other countries in southeast Asia, it took more time to get to decisions.

Although they are a protected species, tigers have been exterminated in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in the last two decades. In Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia, they are close to the edge. The reason isn't habitat destruction, but snares. There are millions in southeast Asia. 

Tigers are poached by professionals moving from one country to another. Trafficking is a multi-billion business. The economic growth in China in particular resulted in a strong demand for tiger products. Those involved in trafficking have the means and knowledge to satisfy the demand, whereas those opposing them struggle in both departments. 

Although most tiger products end up in Vietnam and China, trafficking has a global character. Tiger skins and bones have been confiscated in many countries. As a result of the decreasing number of tigers, poachers decided to extent to lions, leopards and jaguars. Medium-sized wild cats and other rare species are on the list as well. 

Poaching isn't directly related to colonization. It's a result of a deep-rooted culture on one hand and a market-orientated economy on the other. Political will, public support, knowledge, cooperation and organisation are vital ingredients of conservation. If a country is lacking in one of these departments, conservation will fail. 

5 - Korea
 
During the Japanese occupation of Korea, tigers were hunted to extinction. Some years ago, a book about that period was published in Japan. I read a review on the site of a Korean newspaper. Good topic for a post, I think. Reply