Tigers are the largest and perhaps most majestic cat family in the world. Male tigers average 10 feet in length and weigh up to 500 pounds. Females average 8 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds. Tigers that live in cold regions are paler in color and larger in size; their fur is long and thick. In warmer climates, tigers are smaller in size and more colorful; they have shorter, thinner fur. These beautiful and graceful animals tend to have an almost mythical connotation with them in many cultures close to the tigers' natural habitats. They consider tiger parts to many properties, both for healing and poisons.
Unfortunately, humans have hunted these animals mercilessly; these regal felines only number about 5,000 to 7,000 total, with just over 3,000 remaining in the wild. In the early 1900's, there were about 100,000 of these imperious animals. During this time, there were about 9 subspecies of tigers. Today, only about 5 or 6 of those subspecies remain.
However, this decrease is not only due to poaching, but also to pernicious deforestation. The removal of trees from the tigers' natural habitat herds the tigers into smaller and smaller areas. This gives the tigers less room to hunt for food and raise their young, and new males may often kill unprotected cubs (tigers are very territorial). More tigers are forced to prey upon the same amount of animals within a given area.
http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/endangered-tigers-facts
http://www.tigersincrisis.com
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/tiger.htm
