WORLD TIGER DAY is on July 29 — a day to celebrate some of the world's most fascinating big cats and raise awareness about their urgent need for conservation.
At one point in time, the world had nine subspecies of tigers. But today, there are only six. While most tigers are genetically one species, there is one which evolved differently: Sumatran tigers.
The Sumatran (or Sunda) tiger is the smallest subspecies of tiger, with a distinctive mane and fur that is darker and has more closely aligned stripes. Their difference is likely due to their isolated island habitat, which forced Sumatran tigers to adapt to a life of limited prey. Sumatran tigers are also excellent hunters, running up to 40 miles an hour in short bursts!
Sadly, Sumatran tigers are critically endangered because of two major threats: habitat loss due to palm oil production and illegal wildlife trade. Today, there are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers in the wild.
The Indonesian government and supporting organizations are working hard to protect the Sumatran tiger. Most Sumatran tigers live on preserves, with forest ranger patrols helping to prevent poaching. The Indonesian government is also working to improve the livelihoods of people living near the tigers’ territory and promote more sustainable rainforest management to preserve Sumatran tiger habitats.
Nevertheless, Sumatran tigers are still far too close to extinction. This WORLD TIGER DAY, help this ENDANGERED tiger species recover, survive and thrive. Contribute with VAKOVAKO.
