Indochinese tigers look a lot like Bengal tigers, but are a bit smaller and darker, with shorter,
narrower stripes.
The male Indochinese tiger is between 9 - 10 feet long (from nose to tail) while
the female is between 8 - 9 feet in length. The males in between 330 to 430 pounds while the much lighter
female is between 220 to 290 pounds. The wild Indochinese tiger can be found in Thailand and Indochina
(Lao PDR, Cambodia, eastern Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia). The Indochinese tiger lives in remote forests
that are often very hilly and mountainous. 1994 estimates made by the World Conservation Union Special
Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group says between 1,050 to 1,750 Indochinese tigers remain in the
wild.
In Thailand, a 1990 survey reported 250 Indochinese tigers remained in the wild while
a report from the Thai Royal Forest Department suggested more like 600 tigers remained in the wild.
Thailand continues to destroy the tigers habitat, thus destroying the tiger with it. Thailand has set
up several protected areas for the Indochinese tigers. One protected area contains 8 interconnected
forests making it larger than 2,000 square kilometers. Another protected area is larger than 12,000
square kilometers making it one of the largest protected areas for tigers in Southeast Asia.
Indo-
Chinese tigers range from eastern Burma through Thailand, Laos and Cambodia to Vietnam. Some are also
found in Malaysia. Within this range, very little is known of their biology, habitat requirements, and
population size. Population estimates vary widely: in Thailand, for example, government officials suggest
more than 450, but other experts estimate a more conservative 250. The overall population estimate of
between 1,100 and 1,800 Indo- Chinese tigers is really only a guess - hence the wide range. An estimated
500-600 are found in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and 500-1,000 in Thailand, Burma and Peninsular Malaysia.
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Our best understanding of the Indo-Chinese tiger comes from Vietnam, where scientists have mapped distributions
for the last 20 years. Here, forest cover has dramatically reduced in the last 50 years to less than
20 per cent total cover. This in turn has destroyed the tigers habitat, and together with illegal hunting
activities, the tiger has been under severe pressure.
The killing of tigers in Vietnam today
is mainly driven by the demand for their body parts which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Tiger
numbers are believed
to be between 200 and 300. One hope for their survival is Vietnam's protected
areas network. Fourteen such areas are known to contain tigers, but only a few populations may be viable.
In Thailand, tigers were found in 22 out of 38 protected areas surveyed during 1987-1991. The
survey suggested resident tiger densities of one per 100 km2 in areas of mid-elevation mixed deciduous
and dipterocarp forest with patchy distributions of large prey species. In lowland forested river valleys
with a greater abundance of large prey species, densities were higher. Since then, 15 potential tiger
populations have been identified, five of which are probably part of larger populations that extend into
Burma, Malaysia and Cambodia.
There have been no comprehensive tiger surveys in Burma, Cambodia,
Laos and Malaysia and baseline research is urgently needed so that populations can be assessed and action
taken to ensure their long-term future. Recent large mammal surveys in Burma have revealed that tigers
were far less abundant than previously thought. Cambodia may support between 100 and 200 tigers and
could potentially support up to 500 as it still has 56 % forest cover. But pressures from hunting and
war, and the planned sale of virtually all remaining forest cover outside protected areas to foreign
loggers, threaten tigers with extinction in this troubled country.
Since the war ended in Cambodia
and a government was democratically elected in 1993. Wildlife trade has increased and tiger parts are
openly displayed for sale. Cambodian authorities estimated in 1995 that two or three tigers were killed
every month, but the Cambodia Tiger Action Plan gave a more alarming estimate of 10 to 15 tigers sold
per month. Cambodia became a party to CITES in 1997, but instability in the country has prevented or
severely restricted planned research and conservation action.
Tigers are found principally in
the south of Laos, but there are few confirmed records. Tiger parts are used in a variety of traditional
medicines and can be readily bought in the markets of major cities.
Although Laos is not a party
to CITES, it has requested international assistance to increase its law enforcement capacity as it
recognizes that poaching pressure on tigers and their prey is increasing. Laos has recently set up a
series of protected areas and tigers have been sighted in 16 of them, providing hope that at least some
suitable habitat survives. However, hydro- electric schemes are planned for most of them; a TRAFFIC South-east
Asia project is advising the Laos Government on CITES accession and wildlife trade controls.
Burma
supports both the Bengal and Indo-Chinese sub- species. Tigers are thought to survive here in greater
numbers than in any other region of Indo-China; but they remain under intense pressure from poaching.
Their true status remains unknown.
Burma acceded to CITES in 1997 and its National Tiger Action
Plan, published in 1995, identified tiger trade as a significant problem. The plan also highlighted
the need for surveys on tiger status and distribution, and identified actions including strengthening
protected areas, protection of habitat corridors that link tiger populations, and increasing law enforcement.
Prior to 1995, Indo-Chinese tigers in Malaysia were considered to be pests and the government
paid bounties for their carcasses. It was not until 1976 that Malaysia began to conserve tigers and now
there are thought to be between 600 and 650. Their presence has been recorded in 13 protected areas.
Malaysia imported 5,691 tiger parts from China during 1990-92 and exported 320 kg of tiger parts to South
Korea in 1993-94. Conflict between tigers and humans is greatest in Malaysia, but illegal trade is far
less (but still present) than in the other Indo-Chinese tiger range states.
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