Habitat Loss: As human populations grew, their agricultural and developmental activities encroached on the natural habitats of Caspian tigers. Deforestation, conversion of wetlands for agriculture, and expansion of human settlements contributed to habitat fragmentation and loss, affecting the tigers' natural resources and hunting grounds.
Hunting and Poaching: Caspian tigers were prized for their luxurious fur and other body parts used in traditional medicine, making them vulnerable to targeted hunting and poaching. Poaching was especially rampant during the 19th and early 20th centuries due to increased demand for tiger pelts and other body parts, leading to substantial population declines.
Prey Depletion: Caspian tigers are carnivores, predominantly preying on large ungulates, such as wild boars, deer, and mountain goats. With habitat loss and the expansion of agriculture, these prey species also faced population declines due to hunting and reduced grazing areas. Reduced availability of prey further compromised the survival of Caspian tigers.
Political Instability and Civil Wars: Some countries within the tiger's historical range have experienced periods of political instability and civil wars. This civil unrest affected conservation efforts, making it challenging to implement appropriate protection measures and combat poaching effectively.
As a result of these factors, the Caspian tiger population dwindled precipitously. The last confirmed sighting of a Caspian tiger was recorded in 1959 in Golestan National Park in Iran. Despite extensive conservation efforts and initiatives to revive the Caspian tiger population, no confirmed sightings have been made in subsequent years. Consequently, Caspian tigers are considered functionally extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).