Tiger Population Diminishing Over Last 25 Years | Tigers Going Extinct?

They’re Not So Grrrrrreat: Tiger Population Down To 3,500

March 26, 2008 5:59 am Nadia Environment, In the News, Issues

Tiger Population Diminishing Over Last 25 Years
Tiger Population Dying
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stated earlier this week in Stockholm that the world’s tiger population might have halved in the past 25 years. This is compared to an estimated 5,000-7,000 tigers in 1982.

WWF estimated there are around 3,500 left, with the South China Tiger nearing extinction.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Poachers

Part of this is due to the demand for tiger body parts in China for traditional medicine, which leads to illegal poaching. Another huge reason for the declining tiger population is habitat destruction.

Sujoy Banerjee, the director of WWF India’s species program, stated that there are 60 percent fewer tigers in the past hundred years in India, from 40,000 to 1,400. Remaining tigers are threatened by Indian farmers who are protecting their livestock. “In many ways,” said Banerjee, “the tiger stands at a crossroads between extinction and survival, and which path it takes is totally dependent on us.”

According to WWF coordinator Bivash Pandav in Nepal, if things continue the way they are, by 2050, more than 90 percent of Indonesia’s forests will have been destroyed. Loggers have ruined giant tracts of Sumatran Tiger habitat, which are the next most threatened sub-species of tiger.

How We Can Save the Tiger Population

Despite the bad news, the tiger population can rise as long as proper preventive measures are taken.

Conservationists have bought land from government in order to fight against deforestation where tigers still live. “There is hope to save animals in this place,” said Pandav.

They have also stressed that if governments preserve habitat and take a bigger stand against poachers. Pressure on China and other countries that are not punishing poachers as harshly could also make a difference.

“We can easily have 10,000 tigers if everything goes as per our wish,” stated Pandav. “[…]Tigers will continue to survive[…]they’re not going to become extinct.”

Pandav estimated we could make a huge impact on the tiger population in as little as ten years, giving the rest of us hope that this majestic creature will not yet be extinct.

Learn more about the dwindling tiger population here.