ENDANGERED SPECIES THE TIGER Ruby Reveles Period 3 4/7/11

Habitat  Tigers are native to much of Asia. From some of the coldest regions to the hot Indonesian Islands.  Tigers can survive extreme weather such as the hot heat of the desert and they do well in grasslands and swamps.  They need a good source of water and vegetation cover.  I chose the tiger because I wanted to do one that isn’t found in the US.  Also because they are at the top of the ecosystem.

What they eat & what hunts them…  Tigers mainly eat deer and wild boar. Their eating habits depends on the type of habitat.  They also eat domestic livestock, buffalo, antelope, and monkeys. Some eat grass, berries, and fruits.  No other animals hunt tigers. They are at the top of the food chain.

Diseases that affect them…  Babesiosis: A parasitic disease that affects wild cats through ticks and causes symptoms similar to those of malaria.  Paragonimous Westermani: Pulmonary Leech  Taenia Bubesei: 9m long intestine parasite.

Effect of extinction on environment…  The extinction of the tiger will have a great impact because it is one of the top predators in the wilderness.  They are at the top of the food chain and are an important part of the ecosystem.  They help keep the balance upon herbivores and the vegetation they eat.  Without them the population of herbivores would increase which would cause a greater demand for vegetation and habitats.  If they were to go completely extinct, the ecosystem would colapse.

What is being done to protect them…  Keeping tigers in zoos where they are taken care of correctly. This assures a greater life span.  Conservationists are creating protected environmental sanctuaries.  Laws against illegal trading.

How they became endangered…  Illegal killing and poaching.  Loss of habitat.  Population fragmentation  Competition between tigers against other tigers for habitat or food.