London: Tiger has been named the most
endangered major species of the world and according to the
latest count there are only 3,200 of them left.
The WWF said it intended to intensify pressures to
save the animal by classifying it as the most at risk on its
list of 10 critically endangered animals.
"We have created a list of ten critically important
endangered animals that we believe will need special
monitoring over the next 12 months," said Diane Walkington of
the WWF.
"This year will also be the Chinese Year of the
Tiger, and so we have put it at the top of our list. It will
have special importance," he underlined.
The future of this majestic animal is threatened by
poachers, the destruction of their habitat and climate change.
The total number of tigers has fallen by 95 per cent
in the past 100 years.
Walkington said to save the tiger, "we have to save
its habitat - which is also home to many other threatened
species".
The 10 most under threat are: tiger, polar bear,
pacific walrus, magellanic penquin, leatherback turtle,
bluefin tuna, mountain gorilla, monarch butterfly, Javan
rhinoceros and giant panda.
PTI