Plant a Rainforest in Southeast Asia

Join us in celebrating International Tiger Day, on July 29, 2015! This day was established to promote public awareness and support for tiger conservation. The tiger is the world’s largest cat and is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

Throughout history, the tiger has provoked a sense of awe and admiration. Its prowess, ferocity, beauty and agility have incited the imagination - inspiring countless stories, paintings, poems and sculptures. The earliest tiger statue found was made in China almost 7,000 years ago! Revered in ancient and modern culture, the tiger is a symbol of power and strength. It is also the national animal of Malaysia, South Korea, Bangladesh and India. However, the king of the jungle is more than just a cultural symbol; it is also a top predator and a keystone species that maintains the balance of entire ecosystems. Saving tigers requires maintaining a sufficient prey base and saving enough forest to support their populations – a trickledown effect that will save hundreds of plant and animal species. A healthy wild tiger population means a thriving jungle ecosystem, which in turn provides long-term benefits for both humans and wildlife.

Tigers once roamed the entire continent of Asia, but with human expansion they have lost over 93% of their original range. They now survive in small, isolated pockets of forest, where they are vulnerable to poaching and inbreeding. The primary threats facing tigers are habitat loss, depletion of prey species and poaching. As forests shrink and prey species become scarce, human-tiger conflict increases. Since 2001, Wildlife Alliance has been dedicated to the conservation of this iconic species. Our Forest Protection program protects 1.7 million acres of critical forest habitat in the Southern Cardamom Mountain Range and our Reforestation program aims to reconnect fragmented forests so that the remaining tigers are free to roam. At Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC), Wildlife Alliance cares for five tigers rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. PTWRC is also a breeding facility for important prey species like muntjac, Eld’s deer and sambar.

Thank you for helping us plant trees in the Southern Cardamom Mountain Range – keeping one of Asia's last major forests intact. Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming threaten to fragment this 2 million acre forest that is home to some of the last tigers in Asia, and the world’s other iconic and endangered animals. To revive decimated areas, Wildlife Alliance and local communities are working together to plant trees and maintain continuous forest cover. Your gift helps reverse the effects of deforestation, preserve watersheds, and provide livelihoods to local communities, and connect critical tiger hagitat. You do more than put a seed in the ground — you ensure the sustainability of the tropical rainforest for future generations.

Make a difference this International Tiger Day by helping us continue to preserve forests and wildlife habitats in Cambodia and reconnect fragmented forests for tigers. We will also be celebrating all week, by posting fun tiger facts, pictures, and stories on our social media platforms. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about these incredible animals, and help raise awareness!