ENDANGERED SPECIES
THREATS
Less than a hundred years ago , tigers prowled across India . An increase in human populations has resulted in major loss of tiger habitat . Despite the ban on poaching in the past few decades , the demand for tigers is leading to a new poaching crisis and threatening their survival as a species .
WHY DO THEY MATTER ?
As a keystone species , tigers are very important in maintaining the rich diversity of an ecosystem . When tigers are protected , we protect more than just them . For example , the protection of just one tiger , also requires the protection of their habitat , about 25,000 acres of forest , as tigers are solitary roaming animals . Currently , scientists predict that without greater protection efforts within 10 years the bengal tiger will be extinct .
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