Tiikeri

Tiikeri is the Finnish name for the tiger, Panthera tigris, a large carnivorous feline native to Asia. It is the largest member of the cat family, with a distinctive orange coat, black stripes, and a white underbelly. Each tiger has a unique stripe pattern, much like a human fingerprint, and males typically larger than females.

Tigers are solitary and territorial, marking home ranges with urine, scratches, and vocalizations. They are versatile predators, pursuing a range of large ungulates such as deer, wild boar, and buffalo, and they often hunt by ambush at night or during low light. In many areas, prey depletion and habitat loss have forced tigers to coexist with humans, increasing the potential for conflict.

The species is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, with the global wild population estimated in the low thousands to around four thousand individuals, depending on the year. The distribution covers fragmented habitats across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Russian Far East and China. Habitat fragmentation, poaching for fur and traditional medicine, and depletion of prey are the primary threats. Conservation efforts focus on protected areas, anti-poaching measures, landscape connectivity, and community-based programs. Captive breeding programs and international collaborations also support research and potential reintroduction where feasible.

Subspecies recognition has varied; several living subspecies include the Bengal, Siberian (Amur), Indochinese, Malayan, and Sumatran tigers. The South China tiger is considered extinct in the wild, though captive individuals exist. Tiikeri remains a symbol of biodiversity and is a key focus of global conservation initiatives.