The remaining five tiger subspecies are under considerable risk. Tigers are killed and their bones and other body parts are used in traditional medicines, and their skins used as coats or rugs. Their forest habitat is being lost to logging and farmland. The remaining forest is fragmented into areas that are too small to maintain a viable population of tigers. The presence of tigers in the forest is an indication of a healthy ecosystem.
Tigers are the top predator in their habitat.
They control the numbers of prey species such as deer and wild pigs. Without the tiger, these animals may become overpopulated and habitat degradation can occur. Siberian tigers were part of the Washington Park Zoo - the first pair arrived in 1910. Since that time over 40 Siberian tigers have been born in Milwaukee. Most recently two cubs were born in July, 1995.