Every year on July 29th, the world unites to celebrate International Tiger Day. This global event is dedicated to raising awareness about tiger conservation and promoting efforts to protect these majestic creatures and their habitats.
The Significance of Tigers
Tigers are more than just an emblem of wildlife; they are apex predators and keystone species that play a crucial role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems. By regulating prey populations, tigers help ensure the balance of nature, which supports countless other species, including humans.
Tigers Plight
Despite their ecological importance, tigers face unrelenting threats that have pushed them to the brink of extinction. Over the past century, tiger numbers have plummeted by over 95%, with the IUCN Red List recording their best estimate as 3,140 tigers left in the wild today. Three out of the nine tiger subspecies have already been declared extinct:
- Caspian Tiger – Extinct
- Bali Tiger - Extinct
- Javan Tiger – Extinct
- Sumatran Tiger – Critically Endangered
- South China Tiger – Critically Endangered
- Malayan Tiger – Critically Endangered
- Bengal Tiger – Endangered
- Siberian Tiger – Endangered
- Indochinese Tiger – Endangered (near critically)
Sadly, all subspecies of tigers have come up against many of the same threats facing wildlife globally, including habitat loss and fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, climate change and even disease outbreaks. However, some of the most shocking threats to face tigers come from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.
Tiger Exploitation
Some were shocked to learn through the Netflix documentary Tiger King that there are more tigers in captivity in the USA than in the wild. The sad reality is that tigers have faced hundreds of years of exploitation, from being some of the first wild animals used in circuses (with reports of tigers being used in circuses dating back to 1831) to becoming popular as pets, with well-known celebrities such as Siegfried and Roy, and Mike Tyson, owning and showcasing them.
In later years, unethical tiger tourism became a huge form of abuse, with places such as the infamous Tiger Temple offering experiences and photo opportunities with allegedly drugged tigers and cubs. They were later found to be illegally breeding tigers and trafficking body parts behind the scenes. Such practices continue worldwide, and despite growing public awareness and shifting perceptions, these venues still attract hundreds of visitors, perpetuating this unethical trade.
Parts for Sale: A Catch-22
There is still a sickening demand internationally for tiger parts sold on the black market, including their bones, teeth, claws and skin. In some parts of Asia, tiger bones are considered to have medicinal purposes, and other uses of the bones include boiling them down to make tiger wine. Their whiskers and other body parts are also used in traditional medicine, whereas tiger skins appear as forms of clothing and rugs, and their teeth & claws pop us in trinket form or worn as amulets believed to hold special powers.
The increasing rarity of tigers increases the value of such products, which incentivises poachers to meet the demand. This catch-22 has also sadly transferred to other big cat species, with lion bones and products becoming more of an in-demand product as a substitute.
Global Efforts and Success Stories
International Tiger Day was founded in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, where 13 tiger range countries committed to doubling the wild tiger population by 2022, a campaign known as TX2. Since then, significant strides have been made. Nepal was successful in doubling population numbers, and countries including India, Bhutan, and Russia have seen a rise in their tiger populations thanks to concerted conservation efforts. Just last year, India announced a record high in Bengal tiger numbers, doubling the population that lived there 20 years ago.
Key strategies have included anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, community-based conservation programs, and international collaborations to curb illegal wildlife trade. For instance, India, home to the majority of the world’s tigers, has implemented rigorous monitoring systems and protected areas that have yielded positive results.
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How You Can Help
Protecting tigers requires global participation and action, from direct conservation efforts to raising awareness. Here are some ways you can contribute to tiger conservation:
- Support Conservation Organisations: Donate to tiger conservation efforts or volunteer with tigers through ethical organisations.
- Travel Responsibly: See tigers in the wild on ethical tiger safaris and avoid visiting any ‘sanctuary’ or park that uses tigers for photo opportunities and petting experiences.
- Adopt a Tiger: Many conservation groups offer symbolic tiger adoptions, such as the WWF, which funds crucial conservation projects.
- Make Sustainable Choices: Support eco-friendly products and companies that prioritise wildlife conservation.
- Raise Awareness & Educate Others: Teach your community about the importance of tigers and the urgent need for their protection.
