The Past, Present and Future of the Wild Tiger
The global wild tiger population has tumbled by approx 97% over the last few hundred years and the remaining 3500 wild tigers occupy a tiny 7% of their former range across Asia.
Four populations of wild tigers have already been extirpated; the Bali tiger was wiped out in the 1940’s, the Caspian in the 1960’s, the Javan in the 1970’s and the population in South China in the 1990’s.
Tiger Population Estimates Today (adults)
Bangladesh 400
Bhutan 75
Burma 85
Cambodia No known source breeding population
China 45
India 1706*
Indonesia 325
Laos PDR 25
Malaysia 500
Nepal 121
Russia 360
Thailand 275
Vietnam No known source breeding population
(Sources: * Status of Tigers in India, 2011, Wildlife Institute of India et al, rest of data from Global Tiger Recovery Program)
Global Tiger Recovery Program
The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) is a partnership between the governments of Tiger Range Countries, the World Bank and various international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The goal of the GTI is to double the global wild tiger by 2022, the next Chinese Year of the Tiger and the road map is set out an agreed strategy called the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP).
EIA and other NGOs will continue to act as independent eyes and ears as to assess whether words are really being turned into actions. Read more about the GTRP.