New Tiger Protection Project Sets Clear Target

A new tiger protection effort has been launched by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the World Bank, and the Global Environment Facility. Together, these organizations have committed $2.8 million to tiger conservation under a project called Tigers Forever.

Today, estimates of tiger populations in the wild place their numbers in the region of 5,000 individuals, of which about 2,300 are breeding adults. As recently as a few hundred years ago, wild tigers may have numbered in the region of 100,000 to 500,000 individuals. Tigers are listed as endangered on the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species.

The Tigers Forever project is breaking new ground by coordinating efforts by a variety of institutions:

"This agreement marks a unique partnership among the World Bank, GEF, and the conservation community to work with range states to save one of the world's most beloved animals, the tiger. This project is extremely timely since the plight of the tiger in the wild is dire, and urgent actions on many fronts are needed to protect remaining populations." ~ Dr Steven Sanderson, WCS President and CEO

The project's objectives are exceptionally concrete: to increase tiger numbers within a selection of sites throughout Asia by 50 percent over the next ten years. Conservationists involved in the project have for the first time placed such finite numbers on their goals. There are currently 800 individuals in the selected sites. The Tigers Forever project sets out to increase tiger numbers in the selected sites to 1,200 individuals.

“We’re putting our reputations on the line and holding ourselves accountable that we can grow tiger numbers. At the same time, we have the knowledge, expertise, and track record to accomplish this goal.” ~ Dr Alan Rabinowitz, Wildlife Conservation Society.

Find out more:

• Tiger Gets a Stimulus Plan (Eurekalert)
• Tigers Get a Business Plan (Wildlife Conservation Society)
• Siberian Tiger Population Holding Steady
• Weather Threatens Russia's Rare Tigers and Leopards
• Saving Russia's Rare Panthers

Photo © Wildlife Conservation Society. Siberian tiger captured by a remote camera in the Russian far East.