Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/tiger-count-up-40-percent/
In 2010, the number of tigers in the wild had fallen to an all-time low of 3,200. That was down from an estimated 100,000-plus in 1900. Twelve years ago, leaders agreed to work toward the goal of doubling the population by 2022. While they didn’t quite manage it globally, their efforts appear to be heading in the right direction.
Recent figures from the International Union for Conservation of Nature show that there are now between 3,726 and 5,578 wild tigers throughout the world. That’s up 40% from 2015 estimates. IUCN says this increase is due to improvements in monitoring that give a better head count, but it also shows the population seems to be stable or increasing.
While the tiger remains listed as endangered on IUCN’s Red List, the organization says conservation projects appear to be working and recovery is possible if these efforts continue.
Dr. Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, explains, “Tiger population recovery shows us that solving complex conservation challenges is possible, and within our reach. Although tigers are still endangered, their populations appear to be stable or increasing. We need to learn from these conservation successes, share them with the public, and increase our investment in evidence-based conservation action.”
Such actions include expanding, connecting, and effectively managing protected areas, as well as working with communities in tiger habitat.
WWF, which continues to work with tiger populated countries, notes that over the past 12 years, there have been a variety of efforts to preserve tiger habitat. Those include the designation of the world’s largest tiger protected area in China, as well as Land of the Leopard national park in Russia, where tiger numbers tripled. The population has also doubled since 2012 in Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan, and the Khata Forest Conservation Area in Nepal and India has expanded from 284 acres to 9,390. Forty-six tigers have been observed using it in the past five years.
The recovery of tigers is not just important to the species, but also to the health of their ecosystems. WWF says that securing tiger landscapes could help protect at least nine watersheds that provide water to more than 800 million people in Asia.
Some of the threats to tigers include poaching, lack of prey due to poachers and hunters, and habitat fragmentation and destruction steered by agriculture and development.
Would you like to be part of the effort to save these big cats? Find out how to help below.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
