Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability
Senior Seminar (Instructor: Peter A. Bowler)
University of California, Irvine, February 2002
The South China Tiger
As a result of “the South China Tiger [being] one of the most endangered tiger subspecies in the world” (State Forestry Administration, 2000) China implemented the China Action Plan For Saving the South China Tiger. China’s State Forestry Administration developed the plan because it was necessary to minimize the threat of extinction posed by humans to these tigers. Without intervention, the South China Tiger would go extinct.
Historically, “The South China Tiger was widely distributed, [its range area was about] 2000 kilometers from east to west and 1500 kilometers from north to south” (State Forestry Administration, 2000). What lead to the South China Tiger being classified as extinct was the ignorance of people about the tiger’s ecological and reproductive fragility.
According to the China Action Plan, “During the thirty years before 1980 the wild population of the South China Tiger suffered from continuous large-scale hunting, deforestation of their habitats for timbers, reclaiming of agricultural lands, and pollution from chemical fertilizers”.
A combination of human encroachment and habitat destruction resulted in both a decrease in the numbers of South China tigers in the wild as well as a decrease in the habitat in which they were able to live.
The Ministry of Forest of the Peoples Republic of China combined its efforts with the World Wildlife Federation to conduct a study of the South China Tiger from 1990-1992. “The outcome of the survey revealed that there were about 20 to 30 South China Tigers living in the wild at that time. Therefore, the South China Tiger [was] on the brink of extinction” (State Forestry Administration, 2000).
There are two different types of South China Tiger populations: a wild population and a captive-bred population. The Ministry of Forestry “ordered continuous data collection [to determine the extent of the South China Tiger in the wild]…Over 2000 pieces of information was collected by May of 2000…it is confirmed that there is still a wild population of South China Tigers existing in China”(State Forestry Administration, 2000).
The captive-bred South China Tiger population began at 40 in 1988 and expanded to 62 by June 2000. The problem with the breeding of tigers within the zoo is that “many were bred as the second, third or fourth generations from the same father tiger. Hereditary diseases appeared in captive bred tigers caused by…inbreeding” (State Forestry Administration, 2000). Below is further discussion about the dangers of inbreeding and the lack of genetic variability within a species.
The problems with a species having such a low number of individuals is that the genetic diversity of the species is limited. Therefore, interbreeding (as illustrated in the above paragraph) can pose a serious threat to the existing population of a species. As genetic diversity dwindles there is a lesser chance of that species being able to survive. A lower genetic diversity leads to an increased susceptibility to disease as well as a lessened diversity of gene combinations. Between thirty to eighty South China Tigers currently exist and with such a small number comes much concern as to the genetic viability of that species in the future (3). Thus, having less genetic material from which a species can draw, means that there is a reduced chance of any genetic recombination and beneficial genetic mutations, which would provide the species with much needed diversity. The more similar the genetic material, the more likely it is that detrimental genetic mutations will occur and be retained. When a species is lost to extinction it can never come back; its genetic material can never be reclaimed and the planet has lost that unique species and its contribution to the environment forever.
Fortunately, as with other species such as the Giant Panda, the People’s Republic of China has elected to help the South China Tiger from becoming extinct.
“With increasing recognition of the great value of the South China Tiger, China has…rapidly strengthened the protection of the animals. A series of strict measures has been executed for protection of the South China Tiger. The environmental deterioration of their habitat has been effectively stopped and poaching of the animals has been strictly prohibited” (State Forestry Administration, 2000).
Several steps have been taken to protect the South China Tiger, including the establishment of nature reserves, a ban on the trade of tiger products, captive breeding (with the help of a gene bank to prevent any more interbreeding), and scientific research and public education. These approaches combined will go a long way in helping to save the tiger species.
According to the Action Plan, China has four main goals that it wants its action plan to reach:
1) “Full recovery of South China Tiger’s habitat and environment to ensure that wild populations have integrated and sufficient natural ranges
2) Establishment of several thriving wild populations of South China Tiger in different suitable ranges
3) Achievement of rehabilitation of sustainable generation of…the captive-bred population…
4) Realization of the coordinated development for the protection of the South China Tiger and local society and economy”(State Forestry Administration, 2000).
The South China Tiger is only one of several species that is endangered due to human activities. It is important for both governments and individuals to become aware of the threats that they pose to species in order to prevent extinction in the future. Without knowledge and awareness many species will meet that same fate as those of the Dodo bird and the Passenger Pigeon. However with appropriate awareness, monitoring and preservation programs it is possible for humans to prevent the complete extinction of the so many vital species and organisms that share this planet with mankind.
3- http://www.home.aol.com/tigertrail/china.htm