DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tqjq2bw81
title: The indigenous range of the tiger (Panthera tigris)

description: Indigenous range maps are fundamental documents in biogeography and
 conservation. We define the indigenous range of a species as ecoregions
 (or parts of ecoregions) where the species was likely found before human
 beings became a major factor shaping the species’ distribution, beginning
 at a time when the geographic alignment of the continents and the
 prevailing climate are (or at least were) roughly consistent with current
 conditions. We developed a structured, generally applicable, method to map
 a species' indigenous range and applied this process to the tiger
 (Panthera tigris). We synthesized a database of over 70,000 tiger
 observations with times and locations to guide our mapping. We developed a
 structured Delphi process to assign categories of indigenous range to
 ecoregions aided by a climate niche model. We analyzed tiger habitat
 change at the ecoregional scale using the anthropogenically-modified
 biomes (“Anthrome 12K”) dataset to suggest dates of first significant
 human impact. Finally, for ecoregions where tigers have been extirpated,
 we estimated extirpation dates. We found the tiger once occupied a likely
 indigenous resident range of approximately 11.5 million km2, crossing 116
 ecoregions. We also mapped an additional approximately 11.7 million km2 of
 exploratory range and 1.2 million km2 of possible resident range.
 Collectively these areas overlap with 36 modern countries. Significant
 human disruption of the species habitat seems to have begun over 6000
 years ago in some areas, but in others, remarkably, has yet to materialize
 in terms of significant habitat loss. In some ecoregions, human activities
 appear to have increased habitat availability in the past, yet overall
 tigers have lost between 90-95% of their indigenous range. We define
 "indigenous range" of a species, develop a replicable
 biogeographical procedure, apply the procedure to the tiger, and discuss
 the conservation implications.
description: We synthesized a database of over 70,000 tiger observations with
 times and locations to guide our mapping. We developed a structured Delphi
 process to assign categories of indigenous range to ecoregions aided by a
 climate niche model. We analyzed tiger habitat change at the ecoregional
 scale through a reclassification of the anthropogenically-modified biomes
 (“Anthrome 12K”) dataset to suggest dates of first significant human
 impact. Finally, for ecoregions where tigers have been extirpated, we
 estimated extirpation dates.
description: **Indigenous range of the tiger (Panthera tigris)** Data is provided in
 ESRI shapefile format based on an ecoregional framework established by
 Dinerstein et al. (2017), which in turn draws heavily on Olson et al.
 (2001). Data are provided in geographic coordinates (lat/lon) using the
 WGS84 datum. Key fields include Category = tiger indigenous range category
 (likely resident, exploratory, possible resident) Divide = dividing point
 if an ecoregion has been subdivided Rationale = brief rationale for
 assignment of tiger range Usage: Data are shared under [Creative Commons
 Zero (CC0)](http://creativecommons.org/about/cc0).
 See:[https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/](https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/)