Just 100 years ago, 100,000 tigers roamed the jungles, mountains, and grasslands of Asia. Today, there are fewer than 4,000. Though there were once eight different kinds of tigers, three have gone extinct in the last 50 years. Five species of tigers remain—Bengal, Indochinese, Siberian, South China, and Sumatran. They are among the most endangered animals on Earth.

No room to roam. Tigers live on their own (except when mating and raising cubs) and need huge stretches of land. But as Asia's human population grows, people are moving into tigers' territory. Forests are cut down for firewood and timber. Farms, factories, and houses are built in their place. This leaves only small patches of land for tigers. Less land also means fewer animals for tigers to catch and eat. To be healthy and strong, tigers need 75 pounds of meat a day.

Hunting the hunter. Illegal hunting (called poaching) of tigers is a major problem. Some people think parts of a tiger's body can heal pain and cure disease. Because of this, many tigers are killed. Their bones, whiskers, tails, and other body parts are used in several traditional Chinese products. These products are sold in Asia and illegally in the United States, but scientists say they don't really work as medicines.

Cats in captivity. There are between 5,000 and 7,000 tigers living in captivity in the U.S. alone. That's more than are left in the wild! Some live in licensed zoos or sanctuaries, but most are kept in circuses, traveling shows, roadside zoos, and even people's backyards. This isn't just unfair to tigers—it's also dangerous for people.

Many wild cats around the world are endangered—including some native to the United States. Read about three of them here.