The End of the Road for Tiger Habitats

Tigers are facing a new threat as 15,000 miles of new roads could cut through their habitats in Asia by 2050.

With fewer than 4000 tigers in the wild today, it is vital that their habitats are protected, but many live in South Asia and Southeast Asia, in regions that are under increased pressure due to human development.

By looking at the impact of existing road networks to tigers in 13 countries, researchers at the University of Michigan have warned what an increased road network could mean for the tigers, saying that their finding is: “a highly troubling warning sign for tiger recovery and ecosystems in Asia.”

There are already 83,300 miles of roads through Tiger Conservation Landscapes, areas of habitat which are key to the recovery of the species. Within the conservation landscapes, 57% of the area is close enough to roads (within 3.1 miles) to have a negative impact on the tigers and their prey.

Road construction often exacerbates three of the main threats to tigers: prey depletion, habitat degradation and poaching.

Even a small increase in roads could have a devastating effect on the recovery of tigers, as they could cut through habitats, permanently isolating populations and creating tiger “islands”.

“Tiger habitats have declined by 40% since 2006, underscoring the importance of maintaining roadless areas and resisting road expansion in places where tigers still exist, before it is too late,” said Neil Carter, lead author of the research. “We urge decision makers to make sustainable road development a top priority.”