Threats & solutions
to connectivity in
tiger landscapes
Tigers, like most other animals, need to move to survive and their movement is key to finding new territory, food, water, and a mate. This movement is part of a bigger circulatory system of our planet which keeps the planet connected. But across Asia tiger habitat is shrinking and becoming more fragmented which jeopardises the future of wild tigers.
There are a number of things that threaten the connectivity of tiger habitat. For each of these threats often a variety of solutions are available to reduce their impact. Let's take a look at a few.
One of the most common threats to connectivity in tiger landscapes is land-use change. This is when habitat suitable for tigers and other wildlife to live in or move through is converted into something no longer suitable for them. For example, tiger habitat may be logged for its timber, or a wildlife corridor is cleared for large-scale agriculture. When habitat is lost it can become nearly impossible for tigers and other wildlife to move to new territories, find food, or a mate. Land-use change can also put people who live and work in these areas in danger. Fragmentation of habitat due to land-use change can increase human-wildlife conflict and the risk of zoonotic diseases because it brings people and wildlife into close proximity.
In the Satpura-Pench corridor in Central India, small-scale local cotton farmers and WWF-India are working together to ensure both livelihoods and connectivity are secured through a regenerative agricultural program. These farms are growing cotton in a way that supports the local biodiversity, preserves the mosaic of habitat, and maximises the farmer’s income.
A woman collects cotton from a small-scale cotton farm that’s working with WWF-India on regenerative agriculture in Central India. © WWF-India
A woman collects cotton from a small-scale cotton farm that’s working with WWF-India on regenerative agriculture in Central India. © WWF-India
Linked to land-use change is deforestation. The legal, or more often illegal, logging of forests in tiger landscapes fragments their habitat and creates pockets of isolated tigers. When forests are lost it’s not just tigers that lose out, often local communities who depend on them for their resources are negatively impacted too. In Nepal a deforested wildlife corridor was brought back from the brink thanks to the support from local communities. The restored Khata Corridor is now under the stewardship of the communities living in the corridor and thanks to their efforts it’s a thriving habitat for wildlife, including tigers that move through this corridor between Nepal and India.
Somewhere along Dawei road, smoke arises from a man-made wildfire in a forest that is supposed to clean up the land for replacement plantation most commonly with betel-nut or rubber, Myanmar. © Minzayar Oo / WWF-Myanmar
Somewhere along Dawei road, smoke arises from a man-made wildfire in a forest that is supposed to clean up the land for replacement plantation most commonly with betel-nut or rubber, Myanmar. © Minzayar Oo / WWF-Myanmar
Another threat to connectivity is linear infrastructure. While human developments such as roads and train lines have improved connectivity for people, they have at the same time significantly disconnected wildlife. These transport highways cut through and disconnect tiger habitat, making it difficult and dangerous for wildlife to move, often resulting in tigers and other wildlife being killed by cars and trains. But there are solutions to this problem that benefit wildlife at no cost to connectivity for people.
Road sign alerting drivers of possible tiger crossing on this highway (H01) cutting through Nepal’s Bardia National Park, and leading to the city of Chisapani. © Emmanuel Rondeau / WWF-US
In the Khata Corridor, Nepal, children collect grasses from the floor of the community forest. © Emmanuel Rondeau / WWF-US
Building infrastructure with wildlife in mind can greatly improve connectivity across tiger landscapes. For example building underpasses or overpasses for wildlife to travel safely across roads or train lines. At an underpass in Chilla-Motichur, India wildlife has been regularly documented moving under a main road. WWF-India was instrumental in advocating for this underpass and confirms that these wildlife crossings are critical to keep wildlife connected.
An elephant using an underpass below a main road in Rajaji Tiger Reserve, India. © WWF & UKFD
An elephant using an underpass below a main road in Rajaji Tiger Reserve, India. © WWF & UKFD
A highway with a viaduct underneath to allow wildlife to cross under the road. © Azlan Mohamed
A highway with a viaduct underneath to allow wildlife to cross under the road. © Azlan Mohamed
Another threat to connectivity that might not be obvious in tiger landscapes is mining. Mining often has an indirect impact on connectivity and research in Central India has shown that mining leads to land-use change and an increase in built-up areas around mines. Felling trees for mining is one of the major drivers of deforestation within central India. The impact of this deforestation on connectivity depends on the size of the corridor and the size of the mine; sometimes mines just create holes in corridors without really impacting connectivity. However, if it’s a large mine, the land use change over a number of years in the surrounding area can result in the complete loss of connectivity and this can increase the risk of local extinction of tigers within the area.
Tigress and two cubs, India. © Shutterstock / Archna Singh / WWF-International
Tigress and two cubs, India. © Shutterstock / Archna Singh / WWF-International
The global tiger population is increasing and this progress is fragile as tiger habitat is decreasing even in countries where tiger populations are increasing. A key part to reversing this decline in habitat is connectivity. We need to ensure remaining tiger habitat stays connected while re-establishing old and new connections to expand the tiger’s range and in parallel work towards coexistence between tigers and people in these landscapes. WWF is working across the tiger’s range to restore, maintain and improve connectivity in key areas, and advocate for new areas of connectivity.
To find out more about wildlife corridors in tiger landscapes, head to our other explainer Why are wildlife corridors important for tigers?