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How does habitat loss threaten tiger survival?
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tiger
The forests of West Bengal are inhabited by the endangered Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).
Habitat loss is a critical threat to the survival of the tiger, a mammal that requires extensive territories to maintain viable populations. As human populations expand, forests and grasslands are increasingly cleared for agriculture, roads, and other human-controlled spaces, which reduces both the quantity and quality of available habitat.123
This degradation impacts tigers in several ways:
- Prey Depletion: The loss of natural habitat leads to a decline in the populations of prey species. Consequently, tigers may become more dependent on livestock, which increases the likelihood of lethal human-tiger conflict.14
- Fragmentation: Habitat loss, often driven by logging and forest fires, creates disconnected populations. This isolation prevents individuals from meeting to reproduce, which limits genetic diversity and increases the risk of inbreeding.52
- Space Requirements: Because tigers are apex predators with low population densities, they require vast home ranges to survive. When these areas are restricted, the species becomes significantly more vulnerable to extinction.2