Genetic Copy Of Extinct Caspian Tiger Could Be Reintroduced
Soon you could spot a wild tiger roaming in Central Asia once again. One of the largest of big cats to ever live was the Caspian tiger which used to wander throughout large swathes of Central Asia, Iran, Turkey and North West China before becoming extinct. Researchers now reckon they have the ability to bring back a sub species that is genetically nearly identical to the Caspian tiger. Scientists have been discussing this possibility for more than ten years, however a recent study that was authored by researchers from the State University of New York and the World Wild Life Fund actually suggests a plan for the very first time.
Caspian and Siberian tigers nearly identical
Previous studies have already proven that Caspian tigers and Amur tigers have a near identical genetic structure. The most recent study highlights two specific areas in Kazakhstan where the subspecies could well flourish. There are however a number of obstacles such as water regulation by Kazakhstan and its neighbour China, plus there needs to be a restoration of the tiger’s prey and safety of local populations must also be considered. All of this needs to be dealt with before beginning the experiment. Researchers reckon that once they receive approval they can increase the tiger’s population from 40 to about a 100 within 50 years.
Questions remain
It is still not known exactly when and why the Caspian tiger went extinct. The IUCN declared the species extinct 14 years ago, although some people claim no one has seen a Caspian tiger since the 1950’s. The species probably went extinct due to Soviet policy which funded bounty hunters and developed irrigation projects that destroyed their habitats. According to James Gibbs who was part of the research team, the Caspian tiger roamed through a vast territory and when they went extinct, the number of countries that hosted tiger populations dropped by 50%. The estimate for the global population of wild Amur tigers is between 520 and 540 and they are the only subspecies that has increased in population over the last 65 years. Kazakhstan supports the idea of tigers living in its territory because it believes it will create jobs and increase wildlife tourism.
