🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Stripe patterns extend to the skin beneath the fur, not just the visible coat.
Each Malayan tiger carries a unique stripe configuration, functioning like a natural fingerprint. Researchers use these patterns to identify individuals in camera trap images. Stripe uniqueness allows precise population monitoring without physical tagging. This non-invasive identification method is crucial when dealing with critically low numbers. In forests where fewer than 150 remain, distinguishing individuals enables accurate density estimates. Stripe individuality highlights both biological diversity and monitoring precision. Every pattern represents an irreplaceable genetic identity.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Individual recognition improves survival analysis and territory mapping. Accurate identification informs corridor planning and enforcement focus. Population data becomes more reliable when individuals are consistently tracked.
When one unique pattern disappears from monitoring records, it often signifies mortality. In small populations, the loss of a single stripe pattern can measurably alter demographic projections. Identity and survival are tightly linked in conservation science.
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