The Economics of Protecting Tiger Populations: Linking Household Behavior to Poaching and Prey Depletion

Abstract

<i>The tiger ( </i>Panthera tigris<i> ) is classified as endangered and populations continue to decline. This paper presents a formal economic analysis of the two most imminent threats to the survival of wild tigers: poaching tigers and hunting their prey. A model is developed to examine interactions between tigers and farm households living in and around tiger habitats. The analysis extends the existing literature on tiger demography, incorporating predator-prey interactions and exploring the sensitivity of tiger populations to key economic parameters. The analysis aims to contribute to policy debates on how best to protect one of the world’ s most endangered wild cats.</i> (JEL Q22)