The populations of the Bengal tiger are gradually decreasing due to the limited flow of the genes between these endangered species. The crucial fact surfaces in the western Himalayan foothills.
The Bengal tiger is one of the most numerous tiger subspecies in the world. A recent study explores that the gene flow of this wild creature in the two reserves situated in the Terai Arc Landscape is very slow. The said Terai region is located in the foothills of the western Himalaya. According to WWF, these wild animals basically exist in India and a small population is present in Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, and Bhutan.
Currently, the tiger is considered as the endangered species due to its habitat loss. It is an obvious fact that habitat loss leads to the fragmentation of the Bengal tiger populations. At the same time, it also decreases the gene flow.
Gene flow is essential between the populations in order to maintain the genetic variation that helps to spread the beneficial gene alleles. Now understanding this gene flow between the Bengal tiger population, exist in the foothills of the western Himalaya, is very important. Proper understanding is the key to creating conservation strategies for these big cats.
Researchers collected 71 samples of the blood, tissue from the Bengal tigers and analyzed their DNA. The aim was to evaluate or assess the gene flow between these big cats that cover the area of 1,800-square-km of the western Himalayan foothills. The whole area contains two key subpopulations of these tigers.
One subpopulation is present in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the second one in the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Shockingly the research teams noticed that the gene flow between these two reserves was asymmetrical and simultaneously very low compared to the past reports. According to Phys.org, the functionality of the important corridor may remain workable if the quality of the habitat doesn't degenerate anymore. That means strong possibility is still present to increase the gene flow between the Bengal tigers.
Every process needs some extra effort and more concrete plan. To maintain a strong connectivity between the said tiger reserves in order to increase the gene flow is not an easy task. Relocation of the villages and industries that can hamper the connectivity is the need of the hour. Even the corridors should be free from boulder mining and other crucial activities to provide a free space to the Bengal tigers.
Like other animal species, the Bengal tiger is also an important part to balance the ecosystem on earth. The flow of the genes can ultimately increase the number of these big cats. A collective effort to boost the awareness among the local people of the adjacent area is also very essential.
