The Turanian tiger, the photo of which is in this article, is considered an almost extinct species. There are very few predators of this species left on the entire planet recently. Thirty years ago, there were no more than two thousand tigers. Over the past decades, their number has slightly increased - up to 3500. Scientists around the world have set themselves the task of doubling their number by 2022
Where did the name tiger come from
The name of the Turanian tiger came from the ancient designation of some regions of Central Asia. Many scientists call this predator Caspian, as it is found near the borders of Afghanistan, Iran and Transcaucasia.
Ally of the Turanian Tiger
During the struggle for survival, the Turanian tiger had a tiny ally - the malarial mosquito. The bite of this insect caused whole epidemics in people. And until mankind learned to cope with malaria, the habitats of the Turanian predator were not touched, and they were not hunted there. After the outbreaks were eliminated, tigers began to be killed again in very large numbers.quantities.
Habitat
The Turanian tiger has long been listed in the Red Book. Its habitat was previously wide. The predator was found in the foothills of the Tien Shan, in the western valleys of the Central Asian rivers - the Syr Darya, Amu Darya, Chui, Vakhsh, Atrek, Murgab, Pyanj and Tenzhen, as well as in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and as far as the Caucasus.
The Turanian tiger in Iran lived in the Caspian provinces of Astrabad, Mazendean and Gilan. They are located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. The tiger traveled south only as far as Mount Elbrus. And this predator is no longer found in the Iranian Highlands.
Habitats
The Turanian tiger's favorite habitats near rivers were reed beds. Predators also felt great in the forests, and often arranged their homes in impassable thickets, where it is difficult for a person to reach.
But in any case, several conditions were necessary for the habitat of the tiger. The first is water, as these predators often drink a lot. The second is the abundance of food (wild boars, roe deer, etc.) Where does the Turanian tiger live in winter? Now we'll find out. This time of year was tough for predators. Especially if there was a lot of snow and snowdrifts. Therefore, the tigers tried to arrange their lair in places protected from snow.
Jolbars
Djolbars is also a Turanian tiger. So it was called in Central Asia. In Kazakh, "jol" means the way. And "leopard" is a tramp. The translation is “wandering leopard”. And the name is quitecorresponded to the Turanian tiger. Sometimes he was very fond of wandering. Moreover, he often frightened people with his unexpected appearance, where he had never been seen before. Turan tigers could go thousands of kilometers away from their native places. They could easily run ninety kilometers in a day.
Description of the Turanian tiger
Turanian tigers were over two meters long. Females are somewhat smaller. The weight of a tiger could reach two hundred and forty kilograms. The color is bright red, with narrow and frequent stripes and longer than those of its counterparts. The stripes could be not only black, but also brown. In winter, the fur of the Turanian tiger became thicker and silky. Especially on the belly and nape. The Predator wore lush sideburns.
The tiger's movements were very fluid despite its powerful physique. Jumps reached six meters in length. Turan tigers were very graceful. Due to their protective coloration, they were perfectly camouflaged, especially in reed thickets. And in the forest, a predator could get close to the victim almost imperceptibly.
His jumps were swift. Almost none of the animals could resist the attack of a beast weighing two centners. And during the jump, his stripes merged so that he seemed gray. The life cycle of tigers is fifty years.
Food
The Turanian tiger fed on wild boars, roe deer, kulans, saigas and gazelles, attacking them near a watering hole. He liked to hunt Bukhara deer. If the tiger was very hungry, he could eat a reed cat or a jackal. But he ate carriononly in the most extreme case. He preferred fresh meat.
If he could not catch big game, he did not disdain rodents, frogs, turtles, birds and even insects. Periodically ate the fruits of sea buckthorn and sucker. Sometimes I fished in shallow water.
Reasons for the extinction of the Turanian tigers
The main reason for the reduction and almost complete disappearance of the Turanian tiger is the persecution of this beast by man. He was killed for hundreds of years not for the danger he supposedly posed to man. The Turan tiger attracted hunters with its beautiful skin, which was valued very dearly. Killed predators sometimes even just for fun.
Before settlers arrived in Central Asia, local residents coexisted quite peacefully with the tigers living nearby. Predators tried to avoid people, not to catch the eye and never attacked for no reason.
The second reason for the decrease in the number of the Turanian tiger is the depletion of the source of food. The number of wild herbivores gradually decreased. And this is the main food for large and powerful predators.
The third reason is the human destruction of flora and fauna in the habitat of tigers. People cut down forests to cultivate fields. For the same purpose, thickets near rivers were destroyed. Yes, and the elimination of foci of malaria also played an important role.
Where can you find the Turanian tiger now?
The Turanian tiger is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species. People are to blame for this, although for them itdidn't pose much of a threat. The last tigers were seen in the last century, in the late 1950s. This predator should have been included in the Red Book much earlier in order to restore the natural abundance of the predator.
There is evidence that he was last seen in 1968 in the Amu Darya region. Therefore, there is a possibility that the Turanian tiger is still alive. It's just that its numbers have already dwindled to such an extent that it has become a rare opportunity to see it.
S. U. Stroganov studied these animals for a long time and watched them. He completed his description of the Turanian tigers with the words that one can live in the habitat of these predators for many years, but never see them, as they are very secretive, sensitive and courageous.
The Turanian tiger in Pakistan can only be found in the western mountainous region. The area is covered with forests and borders on Afghanistan. This area is one of the less accessible to humans. And, accordingly, it is safer for Turanian tigers.
Gladiator Tigers
Currently, the Turanian tiger is an endangered species. But in the past it was much larger. These animals were even used in gladiator fights. Tigers were caught in Armenia and Persia. Then, brought to Rome, predators were trained for bloody fights. Turanian tigers fought not only with their relatives, but also with lions.
In Rome, they tried to arrange fights between predators and gladiator slaves. The first Turanian tiger was killed in a cage. Gladiator slaves flatly refused to fight this predator, he had such a fearcalled them.
Attempts to save the Turanian tigers
Many countries have tried to save the Turanian tiger as a species. The tigress Teresa lived in the Moscow Zoo for eighteen years. It was a gift from the Iranians to the Soviet ambassador in 1926. But the tigress did not live longer than eighteen years.
In Iran, a special reserve has been created to protect the Turanian tigers. Its area is 100 thousand hectares. But for a free and full life of a predator, a natural area of \u200b\u200b1000 square meters is needed. km. And the breeding and conservation of Turanian tigers is also complicated by the fact that these animals are lovers of wandering.
Turanian tiger lair
One of the zoologists managed to find and explore the lair of the Turanian tiger. To get to it, the scientist had to crawl along the predator's path for almost two hundred meters. This road was a natural tunnel of dense thickets of vegetation. The tiger's lair, covered with crushed grass, was always in the shade of trees. A site up to forty square meters always adjoined the habitat. It was littered with animal bones. The smell in this place was very sharp and stinking.
Turanian tiger: retroinduction
In Kazakhstan, it is planned to create a natural reserve "Ili-Balkhash" in the near future. Under it, up to 50,000 hectares will be allocated for the retro-induction of the Turanian tiger. Russia and Kazakhstan and the World Wildlife Society will take part in the program. The project is planned to be implemented in twenty-five years. Will the population and abundance of the Turanian tiger recover?a matter of time, comprehensive action and funding.
