If you’re interested in animals, you’ve probably noticed that there are no tigers in Africa. Here we’ll find out if there are really tigers in Africa, and if not, why.
Tigers are one of the most famous and inspiring big cats in the world. They have entered our mythology, culture and history. Unfortunately, tiger populations have declined worldwide over the past few centuries. Today, fewer than 5,000 tigers remain in the wild due to habitat loss and overhunting.
We’ll find out if Africa is home to tigers. We then learn about the big cats that live in Africa, such as the Caspian, Javan and Bali tigers, and whether they are facing extinction.
Are there tigers in Africa?
Long ago, the ancestors of the modern tiger roamed Africa. But these primitive tigers lived and hunted in Africa long before humans came along. The ancestors of modern tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and even pumas began to appear in Africa 10 to 15 million years ago. Then, about 2 million years ago, some members of this cat family traveled to Asia. Over the next 2 million years, they evolved into the tigers we know today. The researchers believe that geographic boundaries and glacial fluctuations during the Pleistocene may have prevented tigers from returning to Africa.
So, no: there are no wild tigers in Africa.
Where does the tiger live?
Tigers are found today in four different regions; the Russian Far East, the Indian subcontinent, the Indochina peninsula and Sumatra. Tigers have historically occupied forests in much of Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Europe. But centuries of expanding human activity and population numbers have led to rapid declines in tiger numbers in all of their former habitats. Today, tigers occupy less than 5 percent of their historical range. But even in its heyday, tigers never lived in Africa.
Africa’s 3 Biggest Cats
Well, there are no tigers in Africa, so what about the other big cats? Africa is home to a variety of animals including elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, black mambas, gabon vipers, and many, many more fascinating creatures. However, it is also home to three species of big cats: cheetahs, leopards and lions.
Let’s take a closer look at Africa’s big cats.
1. Cheetah
Cheetahs are the fastest animals in the world; they can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Today, one-third of the world’s cheetahs live in southern Africa, where they hunt fast-footed prey such as antelope, impala and springbok. Currently listed as an endangered species, today’s cheetah population is less than 10 percent of what it was a century ago. Cheetahs are vulnerable to habitat loss, poaching and irresponsible hunting practices.
2. Leopard print
While not the largest of the African big cats, the leopard is certainly the most feared. There are no tigers in Africa, but leopards are just as famous and fearsome. These muscular felines can pull prey larger than themselves up high in trees to eat at their leisure. Leopards live in a variety of habitats, including savannas, rainforests, and even deserts and urban areas. Adult leopards face few threats other than humans. They are currently listed as vulnerable. Some of the biggest threats facing leopards include habitat fragmentation, prey loss from the bushmeat trade, and human-wildlife conflict.
3. lion
Male lions are the largest of all African big cats, reaching lengths of up to 10 feet and weights of up to 550 pounds. Only the Siberian and Bengal tigers are bigger than lions. Lions are pack animals and live in groups of up to 30 individuals. Historically, they occupied most of Africa, as well as parts of the Middle East and Central Europe. Today, lions can only survive in protected nature reserves, although they are still listed as endangered. Their main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and prey loss.
Are all big cats endangered?
There are no tigers in Africa, but in their homeland they are endangered. However, they are not alone. All seven recognized big cat species are currently listed as threatened or worse. These include cheetahs, tigers, snow leopards, lions, jaguars, pumas and leopards. Worldwide, big cats are considered keystone species. This means that when local environmental conditions go wrong (due to deforestation or overhunting), big cats are often the first to suffer. They are also more likely to be killed in human-wildlife conflict than other less dangerous animals such as deer or ducks.
Saving Big Cats: What You Can Do
One of the first steps you can take to become a big cat conservationist is to do your research. Learn what the biggest threats to big cats are and what conservation organizations are doing to address them. Additionally, you can speak out against illegal wildlife and wildlife trade. You can also learn more about the trade in captive tigers in the United States and Asia, and how this negatively affects tiger conservation efforts around the world.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
