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Why are tigers in trouble?At the beginning of the last century it is estimated that there were 100,000 wild tigers, today the number is about 5,000. Simply put, tigers are disappearing in the wild. The main threats to tigers are:Confiscated tiger skins in Nepal - Chapagain, D People continue to kill tigers: Tigers are legally protected in all of the countries in which they live today, and international trade in tiger parts is prohibited. Yet, illegal trade in tiger bones and skins flourishes across international borders and within tiger range countries. People continue to poach tigers, and law enforcement agencies in tiger range countries continue to confiscate large quantities of bone and skins. The main obstacle to wildlife conservation in Asia today is that eliminating illegal wildlife trade is not a priority on any country’s national agenda. People continue to destroy, fragment and degrade existing and potential tiger habitats and overkill the tigers prey: Poised at the top of an intricate ecosystem, the endangered tiger is an indicator of ecosystems in crisis. Conservationists must create bottom-up support for tiger conservation and enlist key social, governmental, and corporate support for the tiger’s survival in the wild. Save The Tiger Fund views the maintenance of viable tiger populations as an essential component of sustainable ecosystem management and is working to reduce poaching, connect fragmented landscapes, prevent existing habitats from being fragmented by human activities. Insufficient knowledge of what tigers need to survive in the changing landscapes of Asia and inadequate strategies and tools to meet these needs: Despite a decade of conservation investment, our knowledge of the tiger’s ecological needs and the strategies and tools needed to meet them remains inadequate. There is also a critical shortage of trained conservation practitioners, organizations, alliances and networks that recognize the tiger’s ecological needs and know how to link the tiger’s survival with the welfare of people. A divergence of opinion and lack of collective knowledge on the current distribution and population trends of tigers further restricts our ability to identify and respond to impending crises. Tiger day parade in Vladivostock - Phoenix FundLack of recognition and visibility to mobilize multisector support: Effective communications messages, tools and tactics – are critical to saving tigers. Communications needs to be part of the ongoing efforts to increase international visibility on tiger conservation and to develop and sustain key partnerships and constituents that support work to save the tiger from extinction. Attitudes towards tigers are slowly changing from from one of disdain to respect in many tiger landscapes. Politicians need to wholeheartedly support initiatives that help to preserve tigers which are an important ingredient in the ecological and cultural fabric of Asia, and businesses need to come together and provide financial assistance to support ongoing conservation efforts.
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