Why Are There So Many Tigers In Texas?

Why there will likely soon be more tigers in backyards in Texas than in the wilds of Asia.

Thanks to the University of Minnesota for sponsoring this video! http://twin-cities.umn.edu/

Thanks also to our supporters on https://www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth :
___________________________________________

Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer: David Goldenberg (@dgoldenberg)
Script Editor: Emily Elert (@eelert)
Video Illustrator: Qingyang Chen
Video Director: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
Video Narrator: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Ever Salazar, Peter Reich
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder

Image Credits: Camera trap photo courtesy of Ullas Karanth from the Wildlife Conservation Society
_________________________________________

Like our videos?
Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd
Support us on Patreon: https://goo.gl/ZVgLQZ

Also, say hello on:
Facebook: http://goo.gl/FpAvo6
Twitter: http://goo.gl/Y1aWVC

And find us on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n
___________________________________________

If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like these things:
A fun game - try to match tigers by their stripe patterns: http://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/can-tell-tigers-apart/

FYI: We try to leave jargon out of our videos, but if you want to learn more about this topic, here are some handy keywords to get your googling started:
Crypsis: An animal’s ability to avoid detection by other animals. Tigers use camouflage crypsis as part of their predation strategy.
Apex Predator: An animal on top of the food chain with no natural predator in its ecosystem.
Camera Trap: A motion-sensor activated camera to capture images of animals in the wild with as little human interference as possible.
Cultural Climate: Shared perceptions and attitudes in a particular area.
___________________________________________

References:

Kenney, J.S., Smith, J.L.D., Starfield, A.M., McDougal, C.W. (1995). The Long-Term Effects of Tiger Poaching on Population Viability. Conservation Biology 9-5 (1127-1133). Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1995.9051116.x-i1/abstract

Del Bosque, M. (2008) A Tiger’s Tale. Texas Observer. Retrieved from: https://www.texasobserver.org/2835-a-tigers-tale-in-texas-where-you-can-own-a-pet-tiger-the-booming-exotic-animal-trade-has-grim-consequences/

Karanth, U. (2016). Personal Communication.

Rudner, J. (2016) Tigers in Texas: We don't even know how many there are. Texas Tribune. Retrieved from: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Tigers-and-Texas-We-don-t-even-know-how-many-7375558.php

Joshi, A., Dinerstein, E., Wikramanayake, E., Anderson, M.L., Olson, D., Jones, B.S., Seidensticker, J., Lumpkin, S., Hansen, M.C., Sizer, N.C., Davis, C.L., Palminteri, S., Hahn, N.R. (2016). Tracking changes and preventing loss in critical tiger habitat. Science Advances 2-4 (e1501675). Retrieved from http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/4/e1501675.full

Smith, J.L.D., McDougal, C., Gurung, B. Shrestha, N., Shrestha, M., Allendorf, T., Joshi, A., and Dhakal, N. (2010) Securing the Future for Nepal’s Tigers: Lessons from the Past and Present. Tigers of The World, Second Edition. Chapter 25 (331-343). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216561296_Securing_the_Future_for_Nepal's_Tigers_Lessons_from_the_Past_and_Present