Habitat loss: The Bengal tiger's natural habitat is being rapidly destroyed due to deforestation for agriculture, logging, and other development projects. This loss of habitat fragments tiger populations and makes them more vulnerable to poaching and other threats.
Poaching: Tigers are poached for their fur, bones, and other body parts, which are used in traditional medicine and other illegal activities. The demand for tiger products is high in some Asian countries, and this has led to a significant increase in poaching.
Retaliatory killings: Tigers are sometimes killed by humans in retaliation for attacks on livestock or humans. This is a major problem in areas where tigers and humans live in close proximity.
Climate change: Climate change is also contributing to the decline of the Bengal tiger. As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, tiger habitats are being affected, making it more difficult for them to survive.
Prey base depletion: The depletion of the tiger's natural prey base due to overhunting and habitat loss has also contributed to the decline of the Bengal tiger.
These factors have all contributed to a significant decline in the Bengal tiger population. In the early 1900s, there were an estimated 100,000 Bengal tigers in the wild. Today, there are only about 2,500 Bengal tigers left. The Bengal tiger is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).