🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Geographic information systems are widely used to model wildlife habitat suitability under different land-use scenarios.
Habitat modeling studies comparing historical distribution with current land cover indicate substantial contraction in viable tiger range. Conversion to agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure has eliminated many lowland forests. Remaining suitable areas are concentrated in mountainous and protected zones. For a population below 400 individuals, spatial limitation constrains recovery potential. Suitability maps guide conservation investment and patrol deployment. The difference between potential and current habitat is measurable in thousands of square kilometers. The species now occupies a fraction of its former domain.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Spatial analysis informs land-use policy and conservation prioritization. Identifying viable zones allows targeted funding and corridor planning. However, restoring lost habitat at scale is costly and politically complex. Competing land claims complicate expansion of protected areas. The contraction reflects cumulative policy decisions over decades.
For the tiger, range shrinkage translates into increased competition and conflict. Historical memory of expansive forests contrasts with present fragmentation. The predator’s territory has been compressed into highland refuges. Recovery requires reversing long-standing land conversion trends. The map itself reveals the scale of loss.
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