Sumatran - Page 1&2:
In The Wild | 3:
In Captivity | 4:
Subspecies Description |
5: Weight & Length Figures |
6: Conservation
Wild Sumatran tiger numbers:A total of 400 -- 500 Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) remain in the wild. For the most part they live in five National Parks and two Game Reserves on the island, but about 100 are scattered in small widely-spread groups on land designated for agriculture. Their habitat is destined to be lost in the very near future. Not a subspecies, but a separate species?Sumatran tigers are distinctive for being the only subspecies to live in isolation on a large island -- Sumatra, Indonesia. They have been isolated from their cousins on mainland Asia for something like 10-12,000 years; this happened after a rise in sea level. DNA sequencing tests involving 34 captive tigers, 10 which were Sumatrans, have revealed this isolated subspecies now has unique genetic markers. |
Though researchers were unable to include the South Chinese tiger in their testing, based upon the subspecies which were included, results show it is feasible that Sumatrans could be developing as a distinct species, as against being a subspecies. An observation
of this type raises
the importance of preserving the Sumatran tiger to a whole new
level, with some experts suggesting the Sumatran should take
first priority when it comes to conservation efforts.
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Sumatran - Page 1&2:
In The Wild | 3:
In Captivity | 4:
Subspecies Description |
Amur | Bali | Bengal | Caspian | Corbetts | Javan | Sumatran | South Chinese | Amur Leopard |
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Photography
With Thanks To Kevin Borden (Photo 1) |