The wild tiger population is growing by 74%, but the species remains endangered by poaching and illegal trafficking.

Environment and Science Editorial (EFEverde).– There are currently 5,574 wild tigers in the world, a 74% increase compared to 2010, thanks to conservation efforts in countries such as Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Russia. However, the species remains in danger of extinction, warns WWF on the occasion of International Tiger Day.

The Panthera tigris is a "majestic animal," the environmental NGO notes, and faces threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and being one of the main victims of illegal wildlife trafficking. In the last century, 97% of wild tigers have been lost, and human action has led to the extinction of three of the nine subspecies: the Balinese, Javan, and Caspian tigers.

Despite progress, at least 100 specimens disappear each year at the hands of poachers, jeopardizing the recovery of this emblematic species of Asian ecosystems.

More tigers in captivity than in the wild

Tigers can weigh between 100 and 300 kilos and measure between one and three meters. Their life expectancy is around 15 years. However, according to the WWF, there are more tigers in captivity than in the wild: around 14,000 individuals survive locked up in pits, farms, or zoos.

Of these, more than 5,000 are in the United States, about 8,000 in Asia, and more than 900 in Europe, where they are bred for the bone and skin trade. Meanwhile, conservation efforts have led to an increase from 3,200 wild tigers in 2010 to 5,574 by 2024.

Nepal has managed to double its population, and recovery is also progressing in countries such as India, China, Bhutan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Thailand. In Bhutan, for example, there are now 131 tigers, a 27% increase since 2015.

Successful reintroductions and key reserves

WWF highlights success stories in the Rajaji Reserve (India), the Mae Ping-Om Koi Forest (Thailand), and the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve (Kazakhstan), where three tigers have been reintroduced after 70 years of local extinction.

Despite being legally protected, more than 1,000 butchered tigers were seized in Southeast Asia between 2000 and 2018, according to WWF data. Hunters set millions of snares in protected areas, causing the agonizing and slow death of many animals.

Traffickers seek their bones, claws, skin, and fangs to sell as supposed aphrodisiacs, amulets, or in traditional medicine. Their skins are also used in rugs and luxury items.

Habitat restoration and combating trafficking

Habitat loss is another key threat. For 60 years, WWF has been working to restore ecosystems, such as the forests of northeast China, home to the Amur tiger, where more than 50,000 trees have already been planted.

Reserves and ecological corridors have also been created in the 13 countries where this species still survives, with more than 100 active conservation areas. Responsible ecotourism and collaborative work with local communities are also encouraged to ensure coexistence with the tiger.

WWF also supports rangers fighting poachers and works with governments to toughen penalties for illegal wildlife trafficking and monitor markets where tiger parts are still traded. EFEverde

Photograph: EFE/EPA/DANIEL POCKETT Archive