Panthera Tigris Sondaica: Javan Tiger

Name:

Javan Tiger; Panthera Tigris Sondaica

Habitat:

Island of Java

Historical Epoch:

Modern

Size and Weight:

Up to 8 feet long and 300 pounds

Diet:

Meat

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Moderate size; long, narrow snout

The Javan Tiger is a case study in what happens when a natural predator rubs up against a rapidly expanding human population. The island of Java, in Indonesia, has undergone an enormous population surge over the last century; today it's home to well over 120 million Indonesians, compared to about 30 million at the start of the 20th century. As humans occupied more and more of the Javan Tiger's territory and cleared more and more land to grow food, this medium-sized tiger was relegated to the fringes of Java, the last known individuals inhabiting Mount Betin, the tallest and most remote part of the island. Like its close Indonesian relative, the Bali Tiger, as well as the Caspian Tiger of central Asia, the last known Javan Tiger was glimpsed a few decades ago; there have been numerous unconfirmed sightings since, but the species is widely considered to be extinct. (See also a slideshow of 10 Recently Extinct Lions and Tigers.)