The Problem of Endangerment in Siberian Tigers

Problem: Endangerment of Siberian Tigers caused by Human Intervention

Siberian Tigers are the largest of the cat family unit1. They are known for their power and aggressive behavior towards threats against themselves and cubs as well as their recognizable marked pelage. Siberian tigers are one out of five endangered species of tiger left known as Panthera Tigris Altaica1. The Siberian tiger was once largely populated in the areas of China, Russia, Siberia, and Korea2. They are now near extinction in all areas except Russia. The species are close to extinction because of the problems:

Deforestation (loss of habitat and prey to farming),
Legal and illegal hunting and poaching2,
Exterminated by livestock farmers for killing animals1;
Habitat fragmentation
Low genetic diversity4
Low breeding rate

Figure 1 Eastern map showing present and historic Siberian Tiger range2

In the Siberian tiger historic range, an estimation of hundreds of thousands from all over the east has decreased to about 500 documented tigers living in conservations in Russia2. This low number in the tiger subspecies has made it vital to keep the population stable and escalating. If Siberian tigers are not kept stable or escalating, extinction will be a probable outcome for this subspecies, making it the fourth to become extinct in the Tigris species.

Legal and illegal hunting and poaching of Siberian tigers has been a major cause to the endangerment of this subspecies of tiger. An estimation of forty Siberian tigers in the wild in 1940 led the former Soviet Union to place the Siberian Tiger on the endangered species list. Poaching became a problem again in 1990 when the economy of Russia collapsed3. Poaching in Siberian tigers has led to:

Population of Siberian tigers decreasing,
Demand of Siberian tiger pelage high (causing poaching to increase)2,
Siberian tigers to lose habitat (their habitat is not safe anymore),
Offspring to become scarce (cubs will not be able to survive without parent);
Low survival rate in wild caused by Siberian tigers to become domesticated when forced to be used as a pet by local humans.

Poaching in Siberian tigers will lead a decreasing population, as well as preventing offspring, a demand in a desirable treasure (pelage) that cannot be delivered, and a low survival rate in which all will cause the extinction of the Siberian tiger.

Solution: Illegalize hunting and poaching of the Siberian Tiger by the Soviet Union

In 1947 poaching of the Siberian Tiger was illegalized in Russia to prevent the Siberian tiger from becoming extinct3. After documentation was recorded that an estimation forty Siberian tigers were left in the wild, the former Soviet Union made it important to stop hunting and put anti-poaching controls in place. The Soviet Union had placed guards in areas that were well known for poaching, and illegalized the selling of Siberian tiger fur.

Illegal hunting and poaching laws were not followed because of the demand for fur and certain parts of the carcass were wanted by china and Korea. Siberian tigers were used for Chinese medicines and rituals1. After the former Soviet Union collapsed, so did the law of not being able to hunt for Siberian tigers3. In 1990 Russians were hunting Siberian tigers to sell to the Chinese market1 and led to a rapid decrease in the Siberian tiger population.

Figure 2 Pie Chart showing captive Siberian Tiger distribution4

The distribution of Siberian tigers was at high rate of trade at an estimation of sixty tigers per year. Chinese medicine increased the demand by 54% of Siberian tigers being distributed to China each year ranging in the years 1900 and 1940. Trade of fur in Korea and Russia became a popularity creating the second and third highest distribution of Siberian tigers. Using Siberian tiger fur and carcass for remedies and spiritual religion introduced India to facilitate with the distribution of Siberian tigers gradually creating the population to decrease and become endangered4.

Evaluation: Poaching and hunting Prohibition

The law of hunting Siberian tigers being illegal increases very slowly in the 1940’s and slowly increases by 19712. Although it is a slow increase, the estimated guess of Siberian tigers increasing by 100 effects the population in a major way showing that improvement is possible. In 1985 the estimation of Siberian tigers has increased dramatically by 300. The expected results for eleven further years have not shown improvement because it only increased by about twenty instead of following the assumed increase of 100. The reason for this slow increase is because of ...

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Evaluation: Poaching and hunting Prohibition

Poaching and hunting laws have proved to be beneficial to the Siberian tiger’s population from preventing the tigers to become extinct. The law was introduced in 1940 causing Siberian poaching to decrease but not discontinue because of demand1. In 1990 when the law was ended, the Siberian tiger population decreased to an estimation of 2001. Introducing the law of illegalizing hunting and trade in 1940, it was very beneficial to the Siberian tiger population to increase the endangered species5.

Although prohibiting Siberian tigers from being poached has shown a gradual increase in population over years, the Siberian tiger population has not successfully increased enough to expected results (See figure 3). While Siberian tiger poaching and hunting was illegalized, it is at estimation that thirty Siberian tigers were still hunted each year. Prohibition is viewed as a solution with high results for increasing Siberian tiger population, however, it is not a complete solution for the reason that:

Not enough restrictions (poachers can capture around restrictor areas)
Trade will not be completely blocked
Consumer demand will increase (Poaching industry will continue)

This proves that prohibiting hunting and poaching of Siberian tigers is not a beneficial solution.

Zoos are found to be a beneficial solution to prevent poaching hunting by:

Protection ( from poachers)
Food and vitamins supplied
Research
Human leisure

Ethical Implications

Siberian tigers mainly populate in the region of mountains, and low snow cover. In their natural habitat, a male tiger will have the territory of estimation between 60 and 100km each. Territory is important in a Siberian tiger’s life affecting relationships with other tigers and mating with tigresses. Zoos cannot provide enough space for Siberian tigers causing it to be unethical for Siberian tigers to be kept there. If Siberian tigers do not have enough habitats, it will be unhealthy mentally and physically; not being able to mate or get enough exercise that they require3.

When a Siberian tiger is taken from the wild, researchers make a preparation for its travel and arrival. Throughout the 60 to 100km2 in the tiger’s territory, they may have cubs or a mate in which they will be separated from, and unable to take care of their offspring. This may prevent more Siberian tigers from surviving which is unethical. Cubs need a parent to hunt prey, and bring back to their offspring and breaking down the meat to be able to consume. Without this help, cubs will be unable to survive on their own and help from other parent tigers will not be available. Even at a young age, Siberian tiger cubs are seen as a threat to other Siberian tigers and will not be able to obtain help. A cub is naturally taken care of by their parent up to three years1. If Siberian tiger parents are taken away from their cubs, this will prevent offspring from surviving which is unethical.

Economic Implication

To keep Siberian Tigers in zoos to obtain their health, the cost is a key problem:

Cost of maintenance (grooming, food, vitamins ECT.)2 & 7
Health care (medicine if needed for treatment)
Transportation of Siberian tigers out of wild4
Research (tests and upkeep of examinations)

The cost of maintaining Siberian tigers in this environment is high. Health care for each tiger is costly because of the vitamins and minerals consumed daily.9 Many Siberian tigers are maintained by volunteer researchers. This is because zoos do not have enough expenses to keep a full staff on payroll from providing transportation and maintenance fees7. The Russian government provide x quantity of money to provide for the tigers which is not enough. Zoos must rely on tourists and donations which cannot be reliable. The Russian government is not providing enough money to Siberian tiger’s captivity because many people believe the governments funding should go to human tribulations5.

Zoo cost of maintenance has been a problem in north eastern China. Eleven Siberian tigers have died from malnutrition. The zoo did not have enough funds to feed or treat the tigers. Zoo funding to maintain upkeep of Siberian tigers has caused a decrease in the population7.

Human Impact

Benefits of Siberian tigers among the human population allow humans to research and learn more about this subspecies of tiger. Further research of the Siberian tiger has helped humans learn more about the cat family in similarities and differences. This infatuation of Siberian tigers by humans will further their interests in visiting Russia to visit local zoos. By more humans visiting zoos, this will increase the profit of the zoo, allowing Siberian tigers to stay in the safe environment because the cost will no longer be a problem in uptake of the subspecies. By Siberian tigers in the care of zoos, this will increase the population. (See figure 3).5

Risks

Human contact with Siberian tigers will always have a high risk. Although Siberian tigers are not known as man-eaters1, if provoked, they will attack. It has been recorded in December of 2007; a Siberian tiger at a San Francisco zoo killed one visitor and injured two. The Siberian tiger was shot dead. The Siberian tiger had escaped because the fence enclosure was not due to standards and regulation6.

Another risk could be to other Siberian tigers. The tigers are known for being territorial. I f a zoo does not have the Siberian tigers spread widely apart; attacks on each other could be a problem. Siberian tigers mark their own territory which in essence is their home. Naturally, in the wild the standard space ranges from 60 to 100 kilometers. If another tiger crossed this territory, a fight would occur. Attacks on each other could lead to infection of injury or killing which will harm the population of Siberian tigers.

Alternative Solutions: Conservations

The problem for Siberian tigers facilitated in zoos is that the cost is too much for upkeep of the subspecies. A solution for this problem is Siberian tiger conservations. Siberian tiger conservations are large parks that contain few Siberian tigers maintaining their health while collecting research. These conservations are more beneficial to the Siberian tigers because the scientists focus only on this subspecies with financial aid through donations.9 Siberian tiger conservations is more beneficial than zoos in the ways that:

Conservations focus only on this subspecies (allowing money to go only on their expenses giving more support that requirements for survival will be met).5
Build of conservation (the conservation is built for Siberian tigers which will meet their requirements).
Research will be enhanced (scientists will be able to observe and collect data frequently where as zoos have tourists; no time to research).
Health care (conservations have in care veterinarians to be able to treat the Siberian tiger immediately without transport). 5
Mating (conservations find the most successful tigers with most genetic variation from other conservations to mate to generate healthy Siberian tigers to induce successful offspring which will breed a larger, diverse, and healthier population

Conservations will be able to increase Siberian tiger population by keeping them healthy and mating to produce beneficial offspring that will amplify future offspring creating a healthy population of Siberian tigers2. Conservations can successfully do this by donations. Conservations however, reduce chance of future offspring living in the wild which will make Siberian tigers conservation dependent. They make Siberian tiger’s conservation dependent by:

Domestication
Easy food (Siberian tigers will be raised to not have to hunt for prey)
Lower immunity (Siberian tigers will have a lower immune system due to healthy food, and medication and vitamins frequently

Siberian tigers will be raised with all necessities supplied for them when in the wild; instinct was survival techniques of finding territory and marking it. They will have trouble hunting and finding prey because their food has been supplied for them. Siberian tigers will have a lower immunity once sent into the wild because treatment for injuries will no longer be supplied and their body will need to heal itself. With this problem of Siberian tigers not having survival techniques, the population will become extinct because of starvation, and what once were prey, will become predator.

Conservations help Siberian tigers with their low genetic diversity. Researchers can test the tigers and locate which have the most genetic variation4. Siberian tigers have the lowest genetic diversity in the Tigris family. This low genetic variation is called a “genetic bottleneck”. A genetic bottle neck is when an area that animals live in, is decreased in size allowing the animals to breed, and eventually the genetic variation has decreased due to small population to mate with. To increase genetic variation, the project of mating genetic diverse Siberian tigers will take an extensive time because of the low breeding rate4.

Alternative Solution 2: Siberian Tiger Project

The Siberian Tiger Project is a tiger research and conservation effort2. The project is run by a reserve called the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). They have successfully tracked Siberian tiger that are in the wild by using radio tracking. This allows them to:

Study social structure
Land use patterns
Food habits
Reproduction
Mortality
Relationship with other organisms

Through this technology, the WCS have made recommendations to conservations based on the ecosystem in Russia, and knowledge of tiger ecology. This research will allow the reserve to create policies in which the conservations need to follow to benefit the Siberian tigers to live in the wild ultimately. The Siberian Tiger Project has allowed scientists to understand wild Siberian tigers and how to teach them new skills. The Siberian Tiger Project has also created subsequent monitoring to allow Siberian tigers to be monitored for problems of human conflict. This monitoring will allow researchers to prevent poaching. By using radio tracking, conservations can slowly teach Siberian tigers to have survival instinct by making conservations alike with the wild, while the Siberian tigers in the wild today, can be monitored and poaching can still be prevented from Siberian tigers occurrence.

Solution: Using Conservations and the Siberian Tiger Project to prevent human intervention

By using conservations, Siberian tigers will be healthy and successful to produce offspring. The Siberian Tiger Project will allow conservations to raise the offspring in a undomesticated system. Eventually the radio tracking which is used in the Siberian Tiger Project, will allow all Siberian tigers to be in the wild (once a steady population has increased) while monitored for poaching threats. When the Siberian tigers are steadily populated, monitoring will no longer be required. These two solutions will create the final solution of preventing human intervention of Siberian tigers.

Bibliography

1. National Geographic. (2008). National Geographic . Retrieved April 20, 2010, from National Geographic Website: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/siberian-tiger.html

Evaluation

I believe that the National Geographic website is a very reliable source. It educates people about the importance and explanation of the Siberian tiger being endangered. The National Geographic is widely recognized for educating people through magazines and websites of different species and terrain therefore allowing the information on the website to be a reliable source. The National Geographic website stated that “There were once eight tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the 20th century.” While http://www.alexandgregory.com/siberian_tigers.html also states that “Siberian tigers (Panthera Tigris Altaica) also know as Amur tigers are one of eight different subspecies of tigers (Panthera Tigris) and the largest cats currently living on Earth. These tigers like most tigers are endangered.’ These two websites prove that the National Geographic website is a verified and reliable source.

2. Winter, S. (2008, August 21). Reports From the Tigers Forever Meeting. World Zoo today , 1-6.

Evaluation

I believe that the article Reports From the Tigers Forever Meeting is a reliable source. The meeting to discuss Siberian tiger problems consisted of conservationists that are in the CWS (Conservation Wildlife Society). The CWS is a highly recognized conservation group that is not bias because their goal is to save Siberian tigers from extinction. In the report, this statement was reported “But the overall picture is mixed. In Indonesia, researchers estimate that they have lost 29 tigers in one year to poaching and human animal conflict; about 150 remain.” This information is from a reliable source because the National Geographic reported the same information on their website (http://ngm.typepad.com/on_assignment/2008/08/report-from-the.html) stating “estimate that they have lost 29 tigers in one year to poaching and human animal conflict”. The report of the meeting is a reliable source because the National Geographic has confirmed the same information from the Tigers Forever meeting by the CWS.

3. Hornocker, M., & Quigly. (2000). Ecology and Conservation of the Siberian Tiger. Berlin: H Ginsburg.

4. Miquelle, D. (2005). Concervation Genetics. In D. Miquelle, Conservation Genetics (pp. 707-713). Springer: E. Russelo.

5. Pictures Of Cats. (2009, October). Tiger. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Pictures of Cats: http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/Tiger.html

6. National Geographic. (2007, December 27). Retrieved April 29, 2010, from National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071226-AP-tiger-escap.html

7. BBC News. (2012, March 12). Eleven Rare Siberian Tigers die at chineses zoo. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from National Geographic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8563673.stm

8. Los Angeles Times. (2009, March 2). L.A Unleashed. Retrieved April 30, 2010, from Los Angeles Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/03/siberian-tiger.html

9.Chester Zoo . (2010). Siberian Tigers. Chester: Mark Reethes.

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Adam Roberts

26th of Jun 2013

*** This work contains good information but there is too much repetition and some contradictions. More discussion of some of the key points would have been useful.

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