60th Anniversary - 32

K E Y SU C C E S S E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
TIGERS' FIRST
STEPS TO RECOVERY
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WILD TIGER NUMBERS ARE INCREASING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A CENTURY.
Just 10 years ago, wild tigers were heading
towards extinction. From perhaps 100,000
at the beginning of the 20th century, tiger
numbers had hit an all-time low of an
estimated 3,200 - only surviving in small
pockets of their historic range, which once
spanned across the grasslands and forests of
the Asian continent. But things have started
to turn around. In 2010, the governments
of all 13 tiger-range countries made a " TX2 "
commitment to double wild tigers by 2022
- the Chinese Year of the Tiger. A global
recovery plan followed and WWF, together
with individuals, businesses, communities,
governments and other conservation
partners, have worked tirelessly to turn
this grand ambition into reality.
Since then, tigers have made an incredible
comeback in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal
and Russia. Numbers are increasing in
many landscapes and populations are even
moving into new areas, which is also great
news for the many species and millions of
people who rely on healthy tiger habitats. This
success is the result of many efforts - from
creating best-practice global conservation
standards for managing tiger habitats
to supporting the crucial role played by
communities in protecting tigers.
But poaching and habitat loss still threaten
Unfortunately, the many historic threats
to the tiger, ranging from habitat destruction
and fragmentation to the illegal wildlife
trade, have not gone away. But we know the
solutions that can turn things around. More
resources to safeguard wildlife in protected
areas; stronger laws and enforcement to
challenge the illegal wildlife trade; improved
resources to stop poaching; and increased
education and awareness raising to tackle
consumer demand for tiger parts.
60 YEARS OF ACTION FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE
© Nitish Madan / WWF International
60th Anniversary

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 60th Anniversary
