WILDLIFE IN NEED 1oz Silver Proof Coin Series - 2012 Siberian Tiger

The 5^th release in the Wildlife in Need series is the Siberian Tiger. The Siberian Tiger is considered among the largest of cats, and lives primarily in Eastern Russia and limited areas of China and North Korea. This imposing animal is easily recognised by its magnificent striped coat, which is used as camouflage. No two tigers will ever have the same patterning. Female give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise without the male mate. Cubs cannot hunt until they are approximately 18 months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years, after which, they disperse to find their own territory. Adult tigers live alone and are territorial, scent-marking their home to ward off rivals. They are powerful hunters, and capable of stalking prey over long distances. In the 1940s, the Siberian Tiger was on the brink of extinction, with no more than 40 individuals remaining, but conservation efforts have stabilised the population and it is believed between 300 and 500 Siberian Tigers exist in the wild. Poaching is still a significant threat to Siberian Tigers as they are prized by trophy-hunters and their body parts are still used in traditional Chinese medicine. Increased logging, construction of roads, forest fires, and inadequate law enforcement, also continue to threaten the survival of this species.

This is the last coin in the Wildlife in Need series.