International Tiger Day, 29th July
To celebrate International Tiger Day I will be selling some original Tiger prints in aid of Tiger Conservation, I will reveal all on the 29th, watch this space!
International Tiger Day occurs on the 29th of July each year and aims to raise awareness of this magnificent species. This tradition dates back to 2010, during the International Tiger Summit in St. Peterburg when the committee decided to set a goal to double Tiger number by 2022. (Vikaspedia Domains, 2022). Let’s see what progress they have made!
There are two main subspecies of Tiger, ‘the continental (Panthera tigris tigris) and the Sunda (Panthera tigris sondaica)’. (2. Tiger | Species | WWF, 2022). They can weigh from 220-660 pounds and measure from 6-10 feet. Tiger habitats include rainforests, savannahs and swamps. The ICUN Red List categorises them as Endangered (EN). However, according to the WWF, Tiger numbers have increased up to 3,900, thats 700 more! This proves that the efforts of the International Tiger Summit have helped to improve Tiger numbers, however there is still a lot of work to be done to save the Tiger Species from falling back into decline.
Tiger numbers haven’t increased dramatically due to the pressures of habitat loss from human development, poaching and the effects of climate change such as drought. A Tigress can produce 2-4 cubs every 2 years, however, only half of cubs make it past 2 years.
On the flip side, India is a good case study for how important it is to protect wildlife habitats for the wellbeing of Tigers. Research by Ishana Vats suggests that the Tiger population has steadily increased in India recently and has been highlighted as, ‘one of the safest havens for Tigers and its future’. (3. Reasons for the Tiger Population Boost in India, 2022). Vats suggests that this progress is due to better animal conservation efforts and more forest reserves.
Lastly, the WWF analyses the 10 year progress the International Tiger Committee has made. Ginette Hemley, Senior Vice President of Wildlife Conservation at WWF-US, reported this progress,
“India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia and China have demonstrated what it takes to increase wild tiger numbers and conserve their habitat. As these countries show, the communities living alongside tiger habitats are instrumental stewards of the nature around them and their partnership is vital”. This shows that real progress is being made and that involving local communities in these conservation projects are key to all round progress! (4.This Year of the Tiger, WWF Spotlights Both Progress and Urgency for Tiger Recovery, 2022). He also warns us,
“While the global estimate for wild tigers may be on the rise, their range has continued to decline and tigers today are restricted to less than 5 percent of their historic range. As we enter the Lunar Year of the Tiger, there is a pressing need to continue global tiger recovery efforts and strengthen all necessary actions to achieve a sustainable future for the species.”
Thanks for reading!
Vikaspedia.in. 2022. vikaspedia Domains. [online] Available at: <https://vikaspedia.in/energy/environment/important-days/global-tiger-day> [Accessed 15 July 2022].
World Wildlife Fund. 2022. Tiger | Species | WWF. [online] Available at: <https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger> [Accessed 15 July 2022].
Tigersafariindia.com. 2022. Reasons for the Tiger Population Boost in India. [online] Available at: <https://www.tigersafariindia.com/blog/reasons-behind-the-tiger-population-boost-in-india/> [Accessed 15 July 2022].
World Wildlife Fund. 2022. This Year of the Tiger, WWF Spotlights Both Progress and Urgency for Tiger Recovery. [online] Available at: <https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/this-year-of-the-tiger-wwf-spotlights-both-progress-and-urgency-for-tiger-recovery> [Accessed 15 July 2022].