Why does conserving tiger matter?

There are so many species out there in the wild, numerous species went extinct throughout human history,  and tiger is just one species among existing millions of species that the earth harbors. So why we need to spend a huge financial, time and human resources for trying to save just this one species, tiger.

It is important to have a basic understanding about tigers before any further discussion about tiger conservation. Tiger is terrestrial carnivore, simply mean meat eaters. They feed on all kind of wild animals but usually on big ones such as deer, wild pig, buffalo or cow as smaller animals would not sufficient for its meal. Tiger is the top predator in the forest of Asia. It is a wide ranging and low density species animal, therefore large forested areas are needed to support a population of wild tiger. ­­Density of tiger varies from one landscape to another, from lowest of 0,5 - 20 per 100 sq KM, depending on the abundance of tiger's prey and level of habitat disturbance. Study reveals that a tiger catches roughly 50 large wild animals per year so that 500 of ungulates (large mammal) is considered as threshold for its food base. Thus, in order to sustain 20 wild tigers, a minimum of 10,000 of reproducing ungulates is a precondition. In short, only a healthy forest or ecosystem would be conducive for a population of wild tiger to thrive and flourish.

Loss of habitats, depredation of prey and poaching are main threats that wild tigers are facing. Thus, current conservation strategy, in the only 13 countries with presence of tigers, focuses on protecting landscapes that known to be tigers' habitats, restricting poaching of tiger prey and prohibiting poaching and trading tigers or tiger products.

Efforts to save tigers from the brink of extinction have been started since 1970s after the species was declared as endangered species by IUCN in 1969 but the subject of saving tigers was not highly discussed or reported globally until the International Tiger Conservation Forum, in 2010, held in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was the first time that leaders of the the tiger range countries, 12 Asian plus Russia, have met and made a commitment not only to save the tigers but also to double tiger population from 3,200 in 2010 to 6,400 by 2022. Save the Tiger Fund was set up to mobilize financial resource to finance activities related to conserving tigers on the ground, concerned governments and International non-governmental organizations such as WWF, WSC and IUCN as well as the Panthera group are key players in the effort of conserving this ecological significant species, tiger.

As presence of tiger is a great indicator of a healthy ecosystem or  a wild landscape, a failure of saving tigers is certainly a signal of poorer or degraded ecosystems (depredation of prey either from loss of habitats or to poaching), fail legal enforcement to stop illegal poaching and trading, as well as lack of public and political willingness to save this magnificent species, king of Asian jungle. An extinction of tiger would be ultimately a tragedy for genetic diversity and biodiversity as a whole.  

Tiger Conservation: Where are we now?

Tigers can only be found in some parts of Asia and Europe. The countries with presence of tigers or so called the Tiger Range Countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Study of tigers since 1960 shows that numbers of wild tigers has been hugely declining to a level of critically endangered by criteria of International Union of Conservation and Natural Resources (IUCN) with an estimation of only 3,200 wild tigers in 2010.  

Numbers of factors have driven tigers to the brink of an extinction mainly habitat loss and poaching. An expansion of agricultural land, to meet food demands of growing population and consumerism society, has translated to a loss of large intact forest areas of the countries and that result in restricting home ranges of tiger populations. Another big threat is hunting, as parts of tigers are believed to have high medicinal value especially by Chinese traditional medicine industry, they become greatly demanded products. The decreasing of home ranges means limited food sources and higher vulnerability to poachers, this inevitably has threatened the survival of this ecologically significant species, tigers.

Interventions of tigers’ conservation started only after the General Assembly of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 1969, proposed a resolution calling for international efforts to save the tiger.

In 2010, leaders of the 13 tiger range countries met in Peters-burg, Russia and made a promising commitment to double population of tiger to the level of 6,000 by 2022 known as Tx2010 goal.

In order to achieve this goal, numbers of actions needed to be carrying out essentially expanding and protecting of tiger ranging homes, eradicating poaching of both tigers and their preys, preventing smuggling and trading of tigers or their parts.

As a result, much efforts and investments has been made to protect this endangered species, tigers by concerned governments and non-governmental conservation organizations. However, commitments and actions vary among the countries. Therefore, outcome of tiger conservation initiative is a mixed of both success and failures.

The latest data from WWF and Global Tiger Forum, April 2016, the population of tigers has, first time, showed an increase from as few as 3,200 in 2010 to 3,890 which means an addition of 690 tigers.  

Although the validity of counting the wild tigers is questionable, the figure definitely is a good news and hopeful for conservation groups and concern nations. Importantly, it signals that with political commitment, sound policy and cooperation from all stakeholders, saving the tigers or other endangered species are achievable.