🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Male tigers typically disperse farther than females when establishing new territories.
After roughly two years with their mother, juvenile Malayan tigers disperse to establish their own territories. This journey requires crossing unfamiliar forest, rivers, and sometimes human-altered landscapes. Mortality risk increases during dispersal due to conflict with resident males and exposure to snares. Fragmented habitat forces juveniles to traverse roads and plantations. Successful dispersal is essential for maintaining genetic flow between populations. Failure means either death or genetic isolation. In small populations, each dispersing juvenile represents future breeding potential.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Dispersal bottlenecks can silently halt recovery even when adult survival improves. If juveniles cannot safely establish territories, population growth stalls. Corridors connecting forest patches reduce mortality during these risky movements.
In highly fragmented landscapes, dispersal may become nearly impossible. Young tigers may encounter insurmountable barriers before reaching viable habitat. Ensuring safe passage is therefore central to long-term conservation strategy.
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