Population Growth
The Pattern of Growth of the Bengal Tiger
During the beginning of the 20th century, it was observed that the population of Bengal tigers started around 45 000 tigers. Throughout the majority of the century, the population of tigers drastically declined until the 1980’s. This linear declining growth rate was caused by many different factors. These factors include human hunting and poaching, as well as deforestation of the tigers’ habitats, especially between the years of 1940-1980. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.). It was at this point, in the 1970’s, where the government realized that there had been a drastic loss of the Bengal tiger population. This alarming declining rate of the Bengal tiger population prompted the creation of conservation programs, in the form of tiger reserves, which were designed to stabilize the numbers of the Bengal tiger. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.) Then the population of the Bengal tigers increased dramatically in the year 1896 due to the immediate effects of these conservation efforts. Many officials thought that this initial boom of the tiger population would help stabilize the tiger population, and many decided to begin to invest less and less money into the conservation programs. As a result, it has been observed that the population levels continued to drop. The population of the Bengal tiger continued to drop, so much so that the Bengal tiger was approaching extinction in 2006 with a just over 1 400 Bengal tigers left on earth. These threatening numbers prompted new conservation efforts to be once again deployed in order to increase the population of the Bengal tiger, and the population of tigers in general. These efforts include strengthening antipoaching laws and stopping illegal wildlife trade, as well as conserving landscapes inhabited by these tigers. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.). These conservation efforts have proven to be somewhat effective, as we have seen an 800 tiger population increase between the years of 2010 and 2016. This is how the Bengal tiger Population has grown over the past decade.
During the beginning of the 20th century, it was observed that the population of Bengal tigers started around 45 000 tigers. Throughout the majority of the century, the population of tigers drastically declined until the 1980’s. This linear declining growth rate was caused by many different factors. These factors include human hunting and poaching, as well as deforestation of the tigers’ habitats, especially between the years of 1940-1980. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.). It was at this point, in the 1970’s, where the government realized that there had been a drastic loss of the Bengal tiger population. This alarming declining rate of the Bengal tiger population prompted the creation of conservation programs, in the form of tiger reserves, which were designed to stabilize the numbers of the Bengal tiger. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.) Then the population of the Bengal tigers increased dramatically in the year 1896 due to the immediate effects of these conservation efforts. Many officials thought that this initial boom of the tiger population would help stabilize the tiger population, and many decided to begin to invest less and less money into the conservation programs. As a result, it has been observed that the population levels continued to drop. The population of the Bengal tiger continued to drop, so much so that the Bengal tiger was approaching extinction in 2006 with a just over 1 400 Bengal tigers left on earth. These threatening numbers prompted new conservation efforts to be once again deployed in order to increase the population of the Bengal tiger, and the population of tigers in general. These efforts include strengthening antipoaching laws and stopping illegal wildlife trade, as well as conserving landscapes inhabited by these tigers. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.). These conservation efforts have proven to be somewhat effective, as we have seen an 800 tiger population increase between the years of 2010 and 2016. This is how the Bengal tiger Population has grown over the past decade.
Population Forecast Of The Bengal Tiger:
Over the last six years, the Bengal tiger population has increased by an astonishing amount, 45.6%. This percentage has been calculated utilizing the given statistical information about the Bengal tiger population during the 2010-2016 period. This calculation of the increase of Bengal tiger population correlates directly to the most recent patterns and trends. Assuming that the trends continue for the next 5 years, it is projected that the Bengal tiger Population would increase from 2500 Bengal tigers in 2016, to about 3600 Bengal tigers by the year 2021. The increase of population of the Bengal Tiger will be a direct reflection of the conservation efforts that have been put into work, by organization such as the WWF, in order to prevent the possinility of extinction of the Bengal tiger population. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.).
Over the last six years, the Bengal tiger population has increased by an astonishing amount, 45.6%. This percentage has been calculated utilizing the given statistical information about the Bengal tiger population during the 2010-2016 period. This calculation of the increase of Bengal tiger population correlates directly to the most recent patterns and trends. Assuming that the trends continue for the next 5 years, it is projected that the Bengal tiger Population would increase from 2500 Bengal tigers in 2016, to about 3600 Bengal tigers by the year 2021. The increase of population of the Bengal Tiger will be a direct reflection of the conservation efforts that have been put into work, by organization such as the WWF, in order to prevent the possinility of extinction of the Bengal tiger population. ("Bengal Tiger," n.d.).
Limiting Factors of The Bengal Tiger:
Some of the limiting factors that could provide troubles to the Bengal tiger population is the effects of deforestation. ("Tigers - Loss," n.d.). Deforestation causes many problems, some of these problems are so significant that the tigers are unable to adapt and end up dying. Deforestation can eliminate shelter for the Bengal tiger, which the tigers use to sneak up on unexpecting prey. Deforestation will also cause the dispersion of prey to different areas. If the Bengal tigers do not have anything to prey on, they will be unable to survive. Competition for resources between the Bengal tiger and its’ co-predators may rapidly increase, which in turn will the reduce the number of resources that are available in a given habitat for consumption. ("Limiting Factors," n.d.). Deforestation has caused a diminishing amount of autotrophs, herbivores, primary carnivores and secondary carnivores, which in turn, dramatically decrease the amount of food that is found in a given area. ("Food Chains," n.d.). This is why the diminishing size of the habitat in which the Bengal tiger lives in, limits the growth of the Bengal tiger, which in turn, puts the tiger in an “at risk” status.
Some of the limiting factors that could provide troubles to the Bengal tiger population is the effects of deforestation. ("Tigers - Loss," n.d.). Deforestation causes many problems, some of these problems are so significant that the tigers are unable to adapt and end up dying. Deforestation can eliminate shelter for the Bengal tiger, which the tigers use to sneak up on unexpecting prey. Deforestation will also cause the dispersion of prey to different areas. If the Bengal tigers do not have anything to prey on, they will be unable to survive. Competition for resources between the Bengal tiger and its’ co-predators may rapidly increase, which in turn will the reduce the number of resources that are available in a given habitat for consumption. ("Limiting Factors," n.d.). Deforestation has caused a diminishing amount of autotrophs, herbivores, primary carnivores and secondary carnivores, which in turn, dramatically decrease the amount of food that is found in a given area. ("Food Chains," n.d.). This is why the diminishing size of the habitat in which the Bengal tiger lives in, limits the growth of the Bengal tiger, which in turn, puts the tiger in an “at risk” status.