Sunday, January 4, 2009

Where do most tigers live?

The United States.

A century ago, there were about 40,000 tigers in India. Now there are between 3,000 and 4,700. Some scientists estimate that there are only between 5,100 and 7,500 wild tigers left on the planet.

On the other hand, there are thought to be 4,000 tigers living in captivity in Texas alone. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association estimates that up to 12,000 tigers are being kept as private pets in the US. Mike Tyson personally owns four of them.

Part of the reason for America’s enormous tiger population relates to legislation. Only nineteen states have banned private ownership of tigers, fifteen require only a license, and sixteen states have no regulation at all.

They’re not particularly expensive, either. A tiger cub will set you back a mere $1,000 while $3,500 will buy you a pair of Bengal Tigers. $15,000 is enough for a fashionable blue-eyed white tiger.

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