Project C.A.T.+WWF: Double the Number of Tigers

Once 100,000 strong, the world’s wild tiger population dipped to an estimated 3,200 tigers by 2010, as poaching, habitat loss, and conflict with humans threatened to erase this majestic cat from its historic range. WWF’s ambitious Tx2 campaign, to double the populations of tigers by 2022 is now half way through its timeline, and we are excited to share successes we’ve been able to achieve so far, in large part due to partnerships established with governments of tiger range countries. These are successes that individuals like you are helping to make possible.

 Working with tiger range nations:

• Under the additional protection established earlier this year with Bhutan’s zero poaching strategy, the tiger population in the Royal Manas National Park has more than doubled. With a global population of as few as 3,890 wild tigers, every population increase matters. This is a big win for tiger conservation.
• Great teamwork and transboundary collaboration with Indian counterparts in India’s Manas National Park, along with local communities, will help continue this trend.

 Innovative collaborations and solutions:

• Borneo and Sumatra are two tiger range countries experiencing unsustainable palm oil production which is decimating the forest habitat. WWF has convened a Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, a large, international group of palm oil producers, buyers, and environmental groups, to establish sustainable standards and certification processes. These industry standards will help to reduce further destruction of forests.

 Addressing climate change:

• One of the world’s largest tiger populations is found in the Sundarbans – a large mangrove forest shared by India and Bangladesh on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean. However, rising sea levels due to climate change can wipe out these forests and the last remaining habitat of this tiger population. Forests are not only native habitat for tigers, but also protect the planet by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). WWF therefore works to mitigate climate change by working with governments to establish agreements reducing deforestation and by using satellite imagery and aerial mapping technologies to track illegal logging.

 In the face of tremendous threats to wild tigers’ survival, your support is helping to reverse the course for these majestic cats and secure a brighter future for tigers and the many other species that share their habitat. Your commitment makes a difference in our work and sets an inspiring example that together, change is possible. Thank you.

Links:

• Learn more about tigers in the Sundarbans
• Learn more about palm oil and deforestation

Once 100,000 strong, the world’s wild tiger population dipped to an estimated 3,200 tigers by 2010, as poaching, habitat loss, and conflict with humans threatened to erase this majestic cat from its historic range. WWF is proud to be working with government and organizational partners to double the tiger population by 2022. While this is a long-term project, we have successes along the way that serve as important milestones of progress – successes that we’d like to share with individuals like you who are helping to make it possible.

Working with tiger range nations:

• In September, Kazakhstan announced plans to reintroduce tigers
• In March, Bhutan announced its national zero poaching strategy

Ending poaching and the tiger trade:

• More than 100 sites across Asia are now using technology to monitor poaching and wildlife crime

Strengthening support for rangers:

• The ground-breaking Training Guidelines for Anti-Poaching Field Rangers released in 2016 have been widely circulated and now translated into Hindi, French, Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish

Monitoring tiger populations:

• Camera traps in Thailand indicate that adult female tiger numbers are increasing by 25 percent per year on average, and cub numbers have doubled since the last survey.

In the face of tremendous threats to wild tigers’ survival, your support is helping to reverse the course for these majestic cats and secure a brighter future for tigers and the many other species that share their habitat. Your commitment makes a difference in our work and sets an inspiring example that together, change is possible.

Thank you.

Links:

• Doubling the tiger population
• This ranger dedicates his life to protecting Amur tigers