Following decades of extermination as a pest, the South China tiger has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years. Many scientists believe the subspecies is “functionally extinct”. A few individuals may remain, but hope for their survival is slim as there is neither adequate habitat nor prey left.
South China tiger
South China tiger, Beijing zoo, China.
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Common Name
South China tiger, Amoy tiger, Xiamen tiger; Tigre (Fr); Tigre (Sp)
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Scientific Name
Panthera tigris amoyensis
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Status
IUCN: Critically Endangered D CITES: Appendix I
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Population
Believed to be extinct in the wild
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Habitat
Southeast China-Hainan Moist Forests
Its habitat in bits and pieces
If there are any South China tigers in the wild, these few individuals would be found in montane sub-tropical evergreen forest of southeast China, close to provincial borders. The habitat is highly fragmented, with most blocks smaller than 500 km².
Once officially hunted as a pest
The South China tiger population was estimated to number 4,000 individuals in the early 1950s.
Approximately 3,000 tigers were killed over 30 years as the subspecies was officially hunted as a pest. The Chinese government banned hunting in 1979, but by 1996 the population was estimated to be just 30-80 individuals.
The subspecies has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years, and is believed by many scientists to be “functionally extinct”.
A few individuals may remain in the moist forests of southeast China, but the wild population is not thought to be viable.
Approximately 3,000 tigers were killed over 30 years as the subspecies was officially hunted as a pest. The Chinese government banned hunting in 1979, but by 1996 the population was estimated to be just 30-80 individuals.
The subspecies has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years, and is believed by many scientists to be “functionally extinct”.
A few individuals may remain in the moist forests of southeast China, but the wild population is not thought to be viable.
Biogeographic realm
Indo-Malayan
Range state
China
Geographical location
Southeast China
Ecological region
Southeast China-Hainan Moist Forests
Indo-Malayan
Range state
China
Geographical location
Southeast China
Ecological region
Southeast China-Hainan Moist Forests
Threats to South China tigers
Although China outlawed tiger hunting in 1979 and declared the South China tiger's survival a conservation priority in 1995, it is thought that even if a few individuals remain, no existing protected areas or habitat are sufficiently large, healthy or undisturbed enough to sustain viable tiger populations.
