The Javan tiger is alive? Description of the species

The Javan tiger is one of the subspecies of a large striped predator that lived on the island of Java. It was relatively small in body size and mass. This subspecies is considered extinct, since it was on the verge of extinction as early as the middle of the twentieth century. The latest data on the three individuals are dated 1979. Approximate time of extinction of the subspecies is 1980.

The catastrophic number of individuals is 25 tigers

For the first time the possibility of extinction of the Javanese tiger began to speak in the middle of the twentieth century. Then the population number was about 25 individuals. All measures to save the subspecies from extinction have been created, a reserve has been established to preserve the population, in which each individual was taken into account. The destruction of the Javanese tiger population is due to the active extermination of predators and the disturbance of the natural habitat. The largest part of the individuals lived in specially created reserves and sanctuaries of the island of Java. But even these measures did not save this subspecies from extinction.

The Yavan tiger is similar in color to the Sumatran tiger. However, there are differences: extinct individuals had a relatively dark color and a rarer disposition of black strips. Sites of dark color on broad paws very often had a beautiful curved double loop. Adult males were significantly larger than females. Very much attracted the poachers of the Javan tiger. The appearance of the hide was chic.

Animal Habitat

Animals lived mainly in the tropics. They hunted for antelopes, bulls, various birds. The lifestyle of this subspecies was no different from the general behavior of tigers.

Female Javanese tigers brought offspring in the amount of two or three kittens. The weight of each tiger cub was up to one and a half kilograms. Within a year and a half or two, the individuals could be mated, since the puberty was coming. The females bore tigers a little more than a hundred days. Average life expectancy ranged from ten to fifteen years.

Prerequisites for extinction

The Javan tiger very often attacked livestock herds, as this is the easiest prey. Cattlemen, while protecting their pets, actively hunted relatively small predators. This was one of the reasons for the extinction of a subspecies of beautiful wild animals.

Farmers in those places always kept a loaded gun in the house. A lot of striped cats fell out of laziness to go hunting. The Javan tiger, whose appearance was described above, was not always afraid of man. That is why hunters could sneak up close to the predator.

The population of tigers is recovering?

The eastern part of the island of Java is covered with dense tropical forests. More than a third of all forests are untouched by man. They are difficult to penetrate, and therefore little investigated. Periodically, there are reports that it was in those forests that eyewitnesses saw several individuals of Javanese tigers. But reliable evidence was not provided. Scientists with a little doubt argue that these messages may be incorrect. From a distance, a leopard can be mistaken for a Javan tiger, since there is a distant external similarity between these predators.

Of course, the locals do not cease to believe that the Javan tiger inhabits the forests. Photos of such evidence tried to provide, but only on them was a blurry image. Therefore, scientists are not in a hurry to resurrect this species of tigers.

The first mention that the predator is alive

But some facts of predator attacks on humans and domestic animals cast doubt on the complete disappearance of Javanese tigers.

The first evidence, which initiated the assumptions about the revival of the population of the extinct sub-species of tigers, was recorded in 2008. On the territory of the functioning Mount Merbabu National Park in the eastern part of the island of Java was found the corpse of a woman. She was one of the many tourists visiting the island. In the investigation of the causes of death, a fact of attack by a predatory animal, presumably from the cat family, was established. The villagers who found the woman spoke in one voice that they saw near the place of attack of a tiger, similar to a vanished subspecies. But since the animal was seen at a great distance, the scientists did not accept this claim for documentary fact.

The second certificate of the fact of the revival of the tiger population was recorded in 2009. Mentioned is the same eastern part of the island, covered with impenetrable forests. It was here that eyewitnesses from among local residents saw a female of the Javan tiger along with two small cubs. The calm tigress showed no aggression, quietly passed by the village and disappeared into the forest thickets. It is possible that the Javan tiger learned to hide from people.

Gold or tigers?

These facts give grounds to assume that the population of Javanese tigers is not destroyed and begins to reborn. Therefore, in the territory of the island of Java, a special reserve was created, a kind of national park, to preserve all Javan tigers, which, possibly, live on the territory. The idea of the reserve functioning is that all tigers should be concentrated in one protected place. Thus, the entire population of animals will be under untiring control and protection.

However, the existence of this reserve is currently under threat of liquidation. On its territory, it was discovered a fairly large deposit of precious metal - gold. Several companies are struggling now for the right to use these lands and start developing gold mining. If the industrial development is not stopped, then the Javanese tiger will finally disappear. The extinction of these predators is officially confirmed in 1980, but scientists do not lose hope. That's only gold mining may be more important than saving a special kind of striped cats.