There are barely 3,500 tigers left in the wild in the world , and the number of females with the ability to procreate does not reach a third of the population, warns an alarming study published in the journal PLoS Biology .
The future of these felines is uncertain. Poaching driven by the belief that the bones of these mammals enhance sexual potency and the destruction of their habitat are the main causes of their worrying decline. However, it is still possible to save the species, according to experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society of New York in the magazine, if all efforts are concentrated on preserving the specimens that live in the 42 protected areas scattered throughout Asia , the majority in India. These places are the last strongholds of the species, and 70 percent of the remaining wild tigers are believed to be found here. Preserving the tiger in these areas would cost $ 82 million.
