Roles and factors of Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) extinction in Hyrcanian forests ecosystems

Abstract

Introduction: The extinction of wildlife in Iran's natural habitats has become an
environmental issue in the last two centuries, and unfortunately, significant numbers of
Iran's wildlife animals have become extincted or are on the verge of extinction. The aim of
current study is to overview on the characteristics, roles and causes of extinction of Caspian
tigers in the forests of northern Iran.
Materials & Methods: This study is accompanied using library documents that include
books about forest and wildlife sciences, history, travelogues and biography, as well as
review of research and sources include related articles and reports, network exploration and
related information. By conducting unstructured interviews with experts in the field of
forest and wildlife ecology and the elderly in indigenous-local communities; That is, by
releasing informants so that they can examine the issue from different dimentations and
respondents in any way they wish to comment on the characteristics, role and causes of
extinction of the Caspian tiger in the coastal forests of northern Iran.
Result: The results show that the Caspian tiger and the Persian lion (Panthera leo persica)
are the most important extincted species in the Iranian wildlife, although the Iranian ostrich
that was extincted before should not be forgotten. Due to the disturbance of the ecological
balance of the natural habitats of the animals due to human interventions, some other
species such as Persian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) and Persian wild ass (Equus
hemionus onager) are also endangered. Caspian tiger has been one of the strong subspecies
of tigers with strong legs, wide and large paws. According to the results, the last Caspian
tigers were hunted in the 1940s, but the extinction of this magnificent species had begun
long before that.
Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that the extinction of Caspian tiger habitat in
coastal forests and reeds and their conversion into agricultural lands such as paddy fields,
multiple hunting by Qajar kings and princes, conflict between Caspian tigers and farmers
in local commubities, hunting tigers only for their beautiful skins and captivity of tigers in
the Safavid and Qajri dynasties and then in the zoos, are the causes of extinction of the
Caspian tigers.