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Indochinese tiger

The Indochinese tiger is a tiger subspecies dispersed throughout the Indochina region of Southeastern Asia. Its scientific name is Panthera tigris corbetti. The population of Indochinese tigers is estimated to be around 300 individuals existing in the wild. However, there is restricted access to border areas where this subspecies lives, so there is very little accurate information regarding its population status, but it is confirmed that there is a global population of less than 2,500 individuals and no subpopulations greater than 250 individuals exist. The Indochinese tiger is categorized as Endangered in 2007 by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is considered to be approaching the threshold for Critically Endangered.

Background

The Indochinese tiger is also referred to as "Corbett's tiger." This name is a reference to the British Colonel and hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett. In the early 1900s Corbett, an avid hunter, was often called to regions of India to deal with "problem cats." While his work was originally dedicated to eradicating troublesome panthers and tigers from various villages throughout India, he eventually began to raise support and awareness for environmental and animal conservation. The Indochinese tiger was named in his honor.

Characteristics

The Indochinese tiger is a solitary animal. Their elusive behavior has made them difficult to observe and study in the wild, so there is little known about them. When compared to other tiger subspecies, the Indochinese tiger is generally smaller in stature. Another distinction that sets them apart is their narrower stripes and the deeper, more vibrant orange of their coat that is sometimes referred to as golden.The males range in size from 2.2 to 2.4 meters long (or 9 feet), weighing in at 150 to 200 kilograms (or 330 to 430 pounds). The females range in size from 2 to 2.2 meters (or 8 feet long), weighing in at 100 to 130 kilograms (or 220 to 287 pounds). Their lifespan can range from 15 to 26 years of age depending on factors like living conditions and whether they are wild or in captivity. Due to their dwindling numbers, Indochinese tigers are known to inbreed, mating with available immediate family members. Inbreeding within this subspecies has lead to weakened genes, lowered sperm, count, infertility and in some cases defects such as cleft palates, squints, crossed-eyes, and sway backs.

Habitat

Historically, the Indochinese tiger has made its home in the Indochina region of Southeastern Asia, specifically within the countries of China, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Its habitat consists of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest. Forests provide this tiger subspecies with camouflage, and its preference for mountainous regions provides them with hunting grounds that fit their lifestyle and dietary needs. The Indochinese tiger populations within these traditional habitats have been dwindling. Within Cambodia, China, and Vietnam there exists no evidence of breeding tiger populations. In fact, China's last known Indochinese tiger was killed and eaten by a poacher in 2007.

Tiger Population Estimates

Country	Minimum	Maximum	Reliability
Cambodia	11	50	Fair
Lao PDR	30	30	Fair
Myanmar	100	150	Fair
Thailand	250	750	Fair
Vietnam	30	150	Poor
Total	421	1,100

The above numbers were collected by IUCN from national tiger population estimates for the purpose of deriving a global tiger population estimate. The numbers vary in reliability and quality among the data collection methods from a recent scientific census (good) to partial site studies (fair) to educated guesswork (poor).

Diet

Indochinese tigers are carnivores, and smaller prey will not suit their dietary needs. They generally consume whatever prey is available within their habitat such as wild pigs, antelope, buffalo, and deer. However, the deer is the Indochinese tiger's preferred prey. Their less common sources of prey are fish, birds, monkeys, elephants, and baby rhinoceroses. Humans hunting within the habitat of this tiger subspecies' have caused the populations of available prey to drop to levels that threaten the Indochinese tiger's existence and create competition within the subspecies. As mentioned earlier, it is difficult for such large, carnivorous mammals to subsist on smaller prey. However, when larger prey are in short supply, Indochinese tigers have been known to turn to porcupines, hog badgers, macaques and a type of small deer called muntjac for food. They have also been known to kill other large predators such as leopards, bears, and other tigers.

Reproduction

Indochinese tigers mate throughout the year, but most frequently during November through early April.After a gestation period 3.5 months, roughly 103 days, a female Indochinese tiger is capable of giving birth to seven cubs. However, on average a female will only give birth to three. Indochinese tiger cubs are born with their eyes and ears closed until they begin to open and function just a few days after birth. During the first year of life there is a 35% mortality rate, and 73% of those occurrences of infant mortality are the entire litter. Infant mortality in Indochinese tigers is often the result of fire, flood, and infanticide. As early as 18 months for some but as late as 28 months for others, Indochinese tiger cubs will break away from their mothers and begin hunting and living on their own. Females of the subspecies reach sexual maturity at 3.5 years of age while it takes males up to 5 years to reach sexual maturity.

Threats

The primary threat to Indochinese tigers is mankind. Humans hunt Indochinese tigers to make use of their body parts for adornments and various Eastern traditional medicines. Indochinese tigers are also facing habitat loss. Humans are encroaching upon their natural habitats, developing, fragmenting, and destroying the land. In Taiwan, a pair of tiger eyes, which are used to fight epilepsy and malaria, can sell for as much as $170. In Seoul, powdered tiger humerus bone, which is used to treat ulcers, rheumatism, and typhoid, sells for $1,450 per pound. In China, the trade and use of tiger parts was banned in 1993, but that has not stopped poachers who can earn as much as $50,000 from the sale of a single tiger’s parts on the black market. With a growing affluence in countries where tiger parts are so greatly valued, demand is high. Located in the Kachin State of Myanmar, the Hukaung Valley is the world's largest tiger reserve and is home to Myanmar's remaining Indochinese tiger population. Since 2006, the Yuzana Corporation's wealthy owner Htay Myint alongside local authorities has expropriated more than 200,000 acres of land from more than 600 households in the valley. Much of the trees have been cut down and the land has been transformed into plantations. Some of the land taken by the Yazana Corporation had been deemed tiger transit corridors. These are areas of land that were supposed to be left untouched by development in order to allow the region’s Indochinese tigers to travel between protected pockets of reservation land. The Burmese Civil War has been an ongoing conflict within the country of Myanmar since 1948. Because of renewed rebel uprising in 2011 from the Kachin Independence Army who occupy a portion of the Hukaung Valley, foreign poaching threats have been unable to safely enter the region. Not only are foreigners restricted from entering the region but reservation staff as well. Among indigenous people, particularly the impoverished, the Indochinese tiger is a valuable resource. Because of the danger of civil conflict, the reservation staff have had a difficult time protecting the tigers from the native population. In early January of 2013, rumors of a ceasefire between the government and rebel forces began to circulate. Now, the country’s leaders believe that a resolution can be reached as early as October of 2013. Having been unable to establish themselves as a protective force in the region, there is concern that foreign poachers will begin moving back into the soon to be peaceful region before the reservation staff.

Consequences

Throughout out all ecosystems they inhabit, tigers are a top predator. When a top predator is in decline or even totally removed from an ecosystem, there are serious consequences that trickle down through the food web and disrupt the proper functioning of an ecosystem. They control population growth and decline and increase species diversity. In the event of the extinction of the Indochinese tiger subspecies it is possible that prey populations would explode. As herbivorous populations increase, vegetation would decrease. Competition would also increase, causing certain species to dominate over others due to sheer population size. Species diversity would decline, and the ecosystem would be thrown completely off balance. Historically, other top predators have been removed from an ecosystem and similar effects were seen such as in the case of the Yellowstone National Park wolves. Despite being illegal, the trade of tiger parts on the black market provides many poachers with substantial income. If poachers were to hunt the Indochinese tiger to the point of extinction, what would they turn to for a source of income? While it is an illegal and frowned upon profession, many poachers do what they do because they are impoverished and have limited options for obtaining a substantial and steady income otherwise.

Conservation Efforts

Myanmar's Hukaung Valley was established as the world's largest tiger reserve. The reserve is about 22,000 kilometers² (or 8,450 miles). This is roughly the size of Israel. It is estimated that as few as 50-70 Indochinese tigers, if any, remain in the valley. Organizations such as the World Wildlife Foundation have been established to raise money and spread education and awareness in support of conserving endangered species such as the Indochinese tiger.