Genomic Evidence for Inbreeding Depression and Purging in Indian Tigers

This study sequenced genomes of Bengal tigers from across India, home to most of the world's wild tigers, to assess genetic diversity, structure, and inbreeding among populations. The authors found that Indian tigers retain relatively high overall diversity but are subdivided into populations, some of which show signs of recent isolation, inbreeding, and accumulation or purging of deleterious variants. They highlighted small, isolated reserves where inbreeding is a concern and discussed implications for connectivity and managed gene flow. The work demonstrated how population genomics can guide tiger conservation at a national scale, identifying which populations most need corridors or genetic management.