| Bengal Tiger Scientific Name: Panthera tigris tigris Also known as: Royal Bengal Tiger Range: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Habitat: Has adapted to a wide range of habitat throughout the distribution range including tall grasslands, mangrove forests, sub-alpine, arid forests and lush wet forests. Facts & Thoughts: With the highest estimated population of the subspecies (possibly 1400-1800) the Bengal tiger represents the best chance for wild tiger survival. The ability to adapt to wide variations of habitat (recent sightings in the mountains of Bhutan were the first real evidence of tiger using that type of habitat) and the possibility of corridors linking fragmented populations mean that, provided the political will is there, the Bengal tiger can survive. As with other subspecies, poaching and habitat encroachment are the main threats. The illegal wildlife trade which turns over billions of dollars globally is often headlined with seizures of tiger bones and skins. With the highest population the Bengal tiger is often viewed as the easiest target for organized crime groups. |
Photo Ambar Sharma