Habitat and Shelter:
* Cover from predators: Trees provide vital cover for tigers, especially young cubs, from other predators like leopards, dholes, and even other tigers.
* Camouflage: Tigers use the dense foliage of trees to ambush their prey and remain hidden.
* Nest sites: Tigress use the dense undergrowth and base of trees to build dens to give birth and raise their cubs.
Food:
* Prey abundance: Forests provide a habitat for a wide variety of prey animals like deer, wild pigs, and monkeys, which are essential to a tiger's diet.
* Hunting strategy: Trees can be used as vantage points to spot prey or as cover during hunts.
Other benefits:
* Shade: Trees provide much needed shade in hot climates, keeping tigers cool and helping them regulate their body temperature.
* Water access: Forests can provide access to natural water sources like rivers and streams that are essential for hydration.
Overall, a healthy forest ecosystem is critical for the survival and thriving of tiger populations. Loss of trees through deforestation directly impacts the availability of food, shelter, and overall habitat for tigers, making them more vulnerable.