TIGERS: POSSIBLY
OUR PLANET'S MOST
ICONIC BIG CAT
There are only around 3,900 tigers in the wild. With the support of Tiger Protectors around the world, they are beginning to make a comeback.
Affected by: Illegal wildlife trade , Human wildlife conflict , Habitat loss and fragmentation
The beautiful, awe-inspiring tiger is one of our planet’s most iconic animals. But here’s the shocking truth. Wild tiger numbers dropped by more than 95% since the beginning of the 20th century. Now, for the first time in conservation history, their numbers are on the increase.
We aim to help double the number of wild tigers to over 6,000 by 2022 – the next Chinese year of the tiger.
In recent years, conservation work and the commitment of various governments has halted the decline in global tiger numbers. But there’s a lot more work to do.
We’re working closely with governments and community groups across Asia – and your support is crucial, as always. Will you join us and help protect this amazing wild cat?
Tigers & asian species regional manager
"I am proud to be engaged in supporting our work on tigers, at such an unprecedented and exciting time in history where wild tiger numbers are starting to increase globally. In my lifetime, tiger populations declined, but are now on the up. That’s quite incredible. However, the threats remain, and we need to do all we can to help achieve the very ambitious goal of doubling the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 – a goal which was set in 2010 when the wild tiger population was at an all-time low."
Tigers used to roam across most of Asia, but now they’re restricted to just 7% of their original range, in isolated forests and grasslands across 13 countries.
As top predators, tigers help to keep their environment healthy.
It’s the way things naturally work in the wild – the predators prey on other animals, in this case herbivores (plant-eaters) such as deer. But without enough tigers to eat them, herbivores can overgraze and damage the land, disrupting the balance of the local environment.
Local people also depend on a healthy environment for food, water and lots of other resources. By helping protect tigers we’re also helping look after the places where they live, which is good for all the people and wildlife sharing that environment.
WWF-UK is a registered charity in England and Wales 1081247 and in Scotland SC039593 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 4016725. Registered office: The Living Planet Centre, Rufford House, Brewery Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4LL
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