Wild Tiger: The Growth Of The Century
The wild tiger is a protected species that lives in the forests between Russia and Vietnam and has been showing a decline in population in recent years. However, we have great news to share: recently the number of individuals of this species has increased considerably.
What caused this increase in the number of wild tigers in recent years? Collaboration between various NGOs and governments.
Causes of the increase in wild tigers
The preservation of the wild tiger has been promoted for years, as it is a beloved animal in the east.
This increase in the number of tigers can be attributed to improved censuses in countries like India, Nepal and others. WWF also points out as a cause of this growth the expansion of species preservation systems.
Marco Lambertini, director general of the WWF, said this is the first time in 30 years of population decline of the species that cooperation between governments, NGOs and local communities has been shown to help preserve a species.
This is not the result of one day, obviously, but of a joint and continuous work for several years, after which it was possible to notice some result.
What was the result?
There seemed to be no hope for the wild tiger species when, in 2010, the last known census (so far) was carried out and reached the figure of 3200 tigers. Based on this alarming data, it was decided that it was necessary to take measures and act to preserve the species.
In the last census, carried out this year and released just a few days ago, the number of wild tigers increased to 3890. It may seem like a small thing, but it is a considerable increase for just six years, even more if we take into account that the population of these animals came constantly falling.
We learned of this census on Monday, before the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, attended the inauguration of the III Asia Ministerial Conference for Tiger Conservation. The meeting, where the wild tiger plays an essential role, took place on April 12 this year.
What is the purpose of the wild tiger conservation conference?
When measures to preserve the species began to be taken, in 2010, a process was created that had a goal called “Tx2”. That goal was to double the population of wild tigers in all the zones they inhabited by the year 2022.
As part of the process, the Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation was created in 2013. Every year, the leaders of Asian countries meet to agree on improvements and work to be done to reach the “Tx2” goal.
But it looks like this conference will be special. Initiative leader Michael Baltzer, a WWF member, says if countries want to reach the “Tx2” target, they must draw up an ambitious and strong plan to not only halt the decline, but double the number of wild tigers and secure a safe haven for them to live.
Why is the wild tiger disappearing?
There are two main causes of the disappearance of the wild tiger: illegal hunting and the destruction of its natural habitat. In the case of Southeast Asia, they also corroborate the little involvement of governments in saving the wild tiger.
Like many other animals, the wild tiger does not escape the damage caused by human beings, both direct, with illegal hunting, and indirect, with climate change.
According to the latest data, it is estimated that poaching took the lives of 1,590 tigers between 2010 and 2014, which helped in the huge reduction of the species.
