🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
A single tiger territory can span hundreds of square kilometers depending on prey density.
As apex predators, Malayan tigers regulate herbivore populations across their territories. By preying on deer and wild boar, they prevent overgrazing of young vegetation. This control maintains forest regeneration and biodiversity balance. Without predators, herbivore numbers can surge beyond sustainable levels. Overbrowsing then reduces sapling survival, altering tree composition. This cascade effect is known as a trophic cascade. The tiger’s presence shapes plant growth patterns across vast rainforest landscapes.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Studies in other ecosystems show that removing apex predators can transform entire habitats. Vegetation loss affects insects, birds, and smaller mammals in complex chains. Soil erosion increases when plant cover declines. In tropical systems, biodiversity is tightly interwoven. The tiger’s ecological footprint extends far beyond its physical size.
With fewer than 150 individuals remaining, each tiger represents not just a genetic unit but a stabilizing ecological force. If they vanish, restoration becomes exponentially harder. Reintroducing predators into degraded systems is complex and costly. Preventing extinction is vastly more efficient than rebuilding ecological collapse.
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