LIVE TIGER WEBCAM AT DUDLEY ZOO

More info: The Sumatran tigers at Dudley Zoo are paired as part of a major international conservation project for this critically endangered species. The tigress Daseep, is ranked as the world’s second most important female in the genetic pool for Sumatran tigers. There are as few as 300 to 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. Eight cubs produced at Dudley Zoo between 2000 and 2005 went on to boost conservation breeding programmes across the world.



Of the original nine subspecies of tigers, three have become extinct in the last 80 years. It has been predicted all tigers may become extinct in the wild within the next decade. Poaching, habitat loss, loss of prey and fragmentation had reduced the global population of tigers from over 100,000 in the early 1900′s, to less than 4,000 in the 1970′s.

Today, four of the remaining subspecies of tigers are considered endangered by the IUCN, while two of the subspecies are considered “critically” endangered. The total number of all the wild populations of the six remaining subspecies of tigers (Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, Siberian, South China, and Sumatran) is estimated to be between 3,000 – 3,600 tigers.

Habitat for the Sumatran tiger has been drastically reduced by clearing for agriculture - particularly palm oil plantations, and settlement. Dispersal of tigers in search of their territory and habitat destruction forces tigers out of protected areas and makes them extremely vulnerable to poaching.



Additional Information:
Animal Diversity Web
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library
Earth.org