Question Sheet: Missing Tigers in India

By Science News Explores

SCIENCE

Before reading:

  1. Have you ever seen a tiger (not including a photo of one)? If so, where? 

  2. What wild animals do you imagine live in India?

During reading:

  1. Describe the Bengal tiger. 

  2. What cultural or religious significance do tigers have in India? 

  3. What are the main threats to the tiger population in India? 

  4. Describe “Project Tiger.” 

  5. Why is it important to have predators in an ecosystem? 

  6. Why has India set up a compensation fund for farmers whose cows are killed by a tiger?

After reading:

  1. Why would the tiger, as a symbol of power and strength, become a coveted animal to hunt and kill? 

  2. What predators do you think are missing from the ecosystem around your house? 

  3. Would you be interested in going to India to see a tiger? Why or why not? 

  4. Do you think people should be allowed to hunt wild animals? 

  5. How do you think seeing a tiger in a zoo is different from seeing one in the wild? 

  6. Do you think it’s likely that tigers will disappear from Earth?

LANGUAGE ARTS

  1. Write a short story about a safari during which you actually saw a tiger. What was the experience like? How did it affect you? 

  2. Research the tiger as a symbol in Indian culture. Who are the gods Shiva and Durga? How does the symbol of the tiger help define their character? 

  3. Emily’s trip to India might be considered “eco-tourism.” In other words, she traveled to see spectacular natural places and animals instead of going to a city and shopping. How might that kind of travel help the environment? Plan your own “eco-tourist” vacation. Where would you go, and what would you want to do or see?

MATHEMATICS

If there are 1 billion people in India and only 7,000 tigers, how many people are there for each tiger?