Panthera Tigris Sondaica: Javan Tiger (original) (raw)
Profile of the Javan Tiger (Panthera Tigris Sondaica)
Andries Hoogerwerf / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Updated on January 29, 2019
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.
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