TIGER CONSERVATION STATUS

Fish and Wildlife Service:

• The tiger is listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the IUCN Red Book and is an Appendix I species under CITES.

• From an estimated 100,000 tigers a century ago, fewer than 5,000 remain in the wild. About 3,000-4,000 Bengal tigers, 400-500 Siberian tigers, 400-500 Sumatran tigers and 1,000-1,800 Indochinese tigers remain in the wild.

•  Fewer than 20 wild South China tigers are thought to survive.
  

•  Tigers are protected by law in every country of their range, except Myanmar, however the illegal traffic in their parts continues. In 1973 Project Tiger was launched in India to create reserves to protect the Tiger.

• At first it appeared a success but 20 years later and at a cost of $40 million from the Indian Govemment and $1 million from WWF, the project seems to be failing.

• Traffic (a branch of WWF) has started new initiatives in the past two years to help stop the illegal trade.
  

WWF:

• WWF is also helping to establish protected areas in China, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand and Vietnam. Two further charities have also begun work to help: Global Tiger Patrol and the Tiger Trust, both based in the UK.

• Captive breeding of all five surviving sub-species of tigers is also vital. All animals are registered world-wide on computer and optimum breeding potential is aimed for.