How did tiger numbers decline during the 20th century?

At the beginning of the 20th century, the global tiger population was estimated at 100,000. By the end of the century, that number had plummeted to between 5,000 and 7,500 individuals in the wild. This drastic decline was driven by several primary factors:1

• Hunting and Poaching: Tigers were extensively hunted as trophies and for their skins, which were highly valued for expensive coats. Additionally, they were killed because they were perceived as a danger to humans.1
• Habitat Loss: The expansion of human populations led to the clearing of forests and grasslands for agriculture, which significantly reduced both the quantity and quality of available tiger habitat.1
• Prey Depletion: As natural habitats shrank, populations of the tiger's prey declined. This forced tigers to rely more on livestock, which in turn led to retaliatory killings by humans.1
• Illegal Trade: Despite bans on hunting and the trade of tiger parts in the 1970s, an underground market persists for tiger derivatives—including bones, blood, and organs—used in traditional medicines and as talismans.1

These combined pressures led to the extinction of three subspecies—the Caspian, Javan, and Bali tigers—during the 20th century.1