Inbreeding is a serious threat to many wild animals. It occurs when populations of animals are squeezed into a small wild space with little opportunity for transfer of new genetic material. It is a problem for Southern California cougars. Photos of a golden tiger sighting are renewing inbreeding concerns for Indian tigers (Panthera tigris)
According to CNN several golden tigers have recently been sighted. Golden tigers are an extremely rare color variation. It is similar to the famous white tigers. Aswith white tigers the odd color is caused by a recessive gene. If the genetic oddity pops up more frequently conservationists worry it is a sign of inbreeding. Only one in thousands of tiger births is normally golden. A golden tiger sighting may spell trouble.
Indian conservationists are already worried about inbreeding. Indian tiger habitat has been shrinking. As a result tigers are living in smaller areas with less contact with other tigers.
A recent study says that tigers in India are showing possible signs of inbreeding. India is home to 70 percent of the world’s free-roaming tigers. Inbreeding could be a disaster for the species. The article was published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Locally the problem is mostly due to freeways which carve up the cat’s habitat. Freeways make seeking new territory to find a mate hazardous. The situation in India is similar but caused less by freeways than by fragmented habitat caused by human settlement.
The study examined 65 tigers from four of the five surviving tiger subspecies. Some lists contain the South China Tiger, but many experts consider it extinct. The study found Indian tigers (Bengal tigers) were more genetically diverse than their cousins from other parts of Asia. Tigers from the north were more diverse than those from the south, suggesting inbreeding. The study authors expressed uncertainty about whether inbreeding would adversely impact survival.
In California, mountain lions (Puma concolor) are also showing signs of inbreeding in Southern California. Kinked tails and other signs have been noted. Worldwide, efforts to create wildlife corridors have become an important conservation tool. CalTrans, the state transportation agency now makes animal connectivity a priority in road projects.