One dead tiger means riches undreamed of. Perhaps one cannot put a value on what tigers mean for a country's prestige. India is home to more than half the world's remaining population of tigers. India's current tiger population is estimated to be about 3500. Conservationists estimate that India is losing about 200 to 300 tigers a year due to poaching and development projects that destroy the tigers' natural habitat.
Bengal tigers make up nearly half of the surviving wild tigers.
The temptation is high, as many poachers can earn as much from a single tiger as they could in a year. Poachers are killing one or two tigers every day, while the Indian Government does nothing. Nearly half of all wild tigers belong to the Bengal sub-species, found in India and several of its neighbours. All are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for the traditional medicine trade. Tiger bones are in high demand in eastern Asia for traditional medicinal purposes.