Natural Enemies:
* Other Tigers: Male tigers are fiercely territorial and will fight each other to the death over mates and territory.
* Large Predators: Tigers are apex predators, but they can be vulnerable to larger predators like crocodiles or bears in certain areas.
* Disease: Tigers are susceptible to various diseases, including distemper, rabies, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
* Competition: In areas where other large carnivores are present, tigers can face competition for prey, especially from leopards and dholes.
Man-made Threats:
* Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: The biggest threat to tigers is the loss of their habitat due to deforestation, human encroachment, and agricultural expansion.
* Poaching: Tigers are poached for their body parts, particularly their bones, which are used in traditional medicine.
* Human-Wildlife Conflict: As humans encroach on tiger habitat, conflict arises, leading to retaliatory killings of tigers by villagers.
* Climate Change: Climate change is impacting tiger populations by altering prey availability, increasing disease outbreaks, and intensifying extreme weather events.
Ultimately, the biggest enemy of the tiger is human activity. While natural predators and diseases pose threats, it is the loss of habitat, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict that are driving tiger populations towards extinction.