They say that tigers in India's wildlife preserves are turning on humans because coastal erosion and rising sea levels are shrinking the tigers' habitat. These tigers live on a series of small islands called the Sundarbans on the border between India and Bangladesh -- an area that scientists say has lost 28% of its habitat in the last 4 decades. While portion of that was tiger habitat, the greatest percentage was habitat for their prey. As the mangroves decline and become more salty, prey is becoming scarce -- making livestock and humans potential targets. Over the past 6 months, tiger attacks have claimed the lives of 7 fisherman in the surrounding area.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tiger attacks on the rise, linked to climate change
They say that tigers in India's wildlife preserves are turning on humans because coastal erosion and rising sea levels are shrinking the tigers' habitat. These tigers live on a series of small islands called the Sundarbans on the border between India and Bangladesh -- an area that scientists say has lost 28% of its habitat in the last 4 decades. While portion of that was tiger habitat, the greatest percentage was habitat for their prey. As the mangroves decline and become more salty, prey is becoming scarce -- making livestock and humans potential targets. Over the past 6 months, tiger attacks have claimed the lives of 7 fisherman in the surrounding area.
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