Although there have been famous cases of attacks by big cats on human beings, such attacks are rare. During its nightly hunt, a Tiger will cover up to 12 miles (19 kilometers) and come close to villages, but almost never attacks people. As human settlements grow larger, wild cats lost natural habitats like forests and grasslands. As a result, their food supply becomes scarce. Even with conservation efforts, many wild cats are at danger from local hunters in third-world countries. Parts of the Tiger are used in a variety of folk medicines which are thought to cure acne, laziness and convlusions.
Humans are the greatest threat to wild cats today. Of the 37 major species of wild cats, 23 are now classified as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
