The tiger population in small isolated forests like Ranthambore carry a risk of getting wiped out due to inbreeding practices unlike other inter-connected landscapes in central India and Western Ghats, biologists in Bengaluru reported on Wednesday, suggesting the introduction of tigers from other parks to Ranthambore in order to save the 50-odd tigers at the tiger reserve.
Fragmentation Of Habitat Is Causing Inbreeding Among Indian Tigers And That Could Be Disastrous indiatimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
While Indian tigers have the highest genetic variation compared to other subspecies of the feline across the world, their populations continue to be fragmented by loss of habitat, leading to inbreeding and potential loss of this diversity, says a new study that may inform conservation strategies. As human population started expanding, so also their signatures on the land. We know that some of these signatures would result in disrupting the ability of tigers to move, Uma Ramakrishnan, co-author of the research, published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, told PTI. According to Ramakrishnan, molecular ecologist and assistant professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, this habitat loss from human activities leads to tigers being hemmed into their own protected area.