Original source, credits text and photograph
What’s stressing out tigers in India’s central reserves? Tourists.
Content
Ever wondered how tigers feel in response to hordes of vehicles ferrying tourists eager for the thrill of a perfect close-up encounter?
Now, a study examining stress hormones in tiger scat collected from two popular central Indian tiger reserves has revealed that these iconic carnivores suffer from high levels of physiological stress due to wildlife tourism and a large number of vehicles entering the parks.
Commentary
Research shows that tigers get significantly higher stress levels from tourists.
This has a negative effect on growth, reproductive success, immunity, and it causes muscular atrophy.
The NTCA, the Indian tiger authority and the forest departments of all 50 tiger reserves in India have work to do!
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