Tigers (Panthera tigris) are perhaps the best animal to illustrate success and failure in conservation. They also show the perversity of our relations with animals we both revere and revile. A worldwide effort to save the wild tiger has not met its ambitious goals. But dedicated conservationists have not given up.
Oddly, there is no real danger of tigers going extinct. More tigers live in zoos, sanctuaries and private hands than in the wild. Those tigers are “generic.” Like most cats tigers breed fairly easily. The captive tigers are of mixed genetics. They are not useful for maintaining the genetic purity of the widely separated populations. Wild tigers are what save the tiger efforts are all about. Their situation is different.
It is impossible to know, but estimates suggest there were about 100,000 tigers alive in 1900. They lived across a great deal of Asia and a number of the larger Pacific Islands. Today, that number is about 6,000. These remnant populations until recently were found in 13 tiger habitat countries.
The alarming decline led to the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010. Representatives of tiger habitat countries vowed to save the tiger and double wild populations by 2022. Almost three years later this is where the situation stands according to various estimates from around the web.
From worst to best the situation is as follows:
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam probably lack viable tiger populations. Cambodia has expressed interest in re-introducing tigers, likely from India. But India has expressed reluctance to send tigers. India wants assurance the transfer will work. India’s attempt to re-introduce cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to India has not been a stellar success. this clouds transfer efforts.
China expresses efforts to protect tigers but the situation appears difficult. The South China tiger is almost certainly extinct. However, about 150 remain in zoos. There may be a possibility that those tigers can be “re-wilded” and released. Re-wilding can refer to transferring wild specimens into an area from which they have been driven. Or suitable captive animals can be identified and trained to live in the wild.
China is proud of a population of about 50 Amur tigers that now make China their home.
Bangladesh estimates its tiger population to be 114. Most of those tigers live in the Sundarbans wetlands. Bhutan has a population of about 131 and growing. Bhutan and Nepal have both seen population growth. Thailand has an estimated population of 189. The country appears to be zealous in protecting tigers. Thais also believe they have found another small previously unknown population.
Malaysia has a larger population of around 340. Indonesia says its tigers number about 371. Researchers are using DNA to identify individuals as part of a protection project on Sumatra. Nepal believes it has 355 tigers and a growing population. Russian experts say 540 Amur tigers live in that country where they are protected. India is the most successful country with 3,682 tigers, perhaps 70 percent of the world total.
Although the 2022 goal was not met the St. Petersburg conference did spotlight the issue and name July 29 as World Tiger Day to help drive the many government and non-government efforts to save the tiger. Among the organizations dedicated to wildcat survival is the World Wildlife Fund.