Good Asian tiger news

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This video is called The Truth About Tigers – Part 1 – a film by Shekar Dattatri.

This is Part 2.

And here is Part 3.

From Wildlife Extra:

Good news for tigers in India, Thailand and Russia

Tigers Roar Back: Good news for iconic big cats in India, Thailand, and Russia at last

December 2012. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has announced significant progress for tigers in three key landscapes across the big cat’s range due to better law enforcement, protection of additional habitat, and strong government partnerships.

The successes are much-needed good news as tiger numbers worldwide continue to hover at all-time lows due to the combined threat of poaching, loss of prey, and habitat destruction. It is thought that only 3,200 tigers exist in the wild.

Indian tiger numbers soar in Western Ghats

The news begins in south-western India where WCS research and conservation efforts that began 25 years ago now show a major rebound of tigers in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka State. Over 600 individuals have been identified to date from camera trap photos during the last decade in this mountainous landscape.

Saturation levels

In Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks, tigers have actually reached saturation levels, with surplus young tigers spilling out into forest-reserves and dispersing using secured forest corridors through a landscape that holds over a million human beings. The combination of strict government-led anti-poaching patrols, voluntary relocation of villages away from tiger habitats, and the vigilant local presence of WCS conservation partners watching over tigers has led to the rebound of big-cat populations and their prey. In newer tiger reserves including Bhadra and Kudremukh, numbers have increased by as much as 50 percent after years of neglect and chronic poaching were tackled.

Thailand sees record tiger numbers in key protected area

In Thailand, WCS conservationists report a tiger comeback in Huai Kha Khaeng (HKK) Wildlife Sanctuary – a 2,700 square kilometre (1,042 square mile) protected area in the vast Western Forest Complex. WCS has worked closely with Thai authorities to beef up enforcement and anti-poaching patrols in the region. Last year, a notorious poaching ring was busted, and this year the gang leaders were given prison sentences of up to five years – the most severe punishments for wildlife poaching in Thailand’s history. Since their capture, there have been no known tiger or elephant poaching incidents in the park. Tiger numbers have been rising steadily in the park since 2007, with a record 50-plus tigers counted last year.

Russia develops new anti-poaching laws and protected areas

Meanwhile in Russia, government officials are drafting a new law that will make transport, sales, and possession of endangered animals a criminal offense rather than just a civil crime. This will close a loophole that currently allows poachers to claim they found endangered species like tigers already dead and thus avoid stiffer criminal penalties for poaching.

New protected areas

Russia is making progress in creating additional protected areas for tigers, too, declaring a new corridor called Central Ussuri Wildlife Refuge on October 18. The new refuge acts as a linkage between the Sikhote-Alin tiger population in Russia, which is the main population of Amur tigers, and some of the best tiger habitat in China’s Heilongjiang Province in the Wandashan Mountains. The creation of the new refuge ensures that tigers have the capacity to move across the international border between Russian and China in this region. WCS first identified this key corridor in 1999 after conducting joint wildlife surveys with Chinese and Russian scientists there.

WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper said: “Tigers are clearly fighting for their very existence, but it’s important to know that there is hope. Victories like these give us the resolve to continue to battle for these magnificent big cats. While the news about tigers has been bleak, these recent developments clearly show how smart strategies and strong partnerships are ensuring tigers are saved for centuries to come.”

WCS is looking to replicate these successes in other parts of the tiger’s range. WCS has over 300 people working on the ground to conserve tigers in the most important tiger sites in seven of the ten remaining countries with tigers. We collaborate with local governments and partners to implement a suite of proven tiger conservation interventions, including improved law enforcement and enlarging and consolidating tiger habitat, that are tailored to each specific country and site.

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7 thoughts on “Good Asian tiger news”

  2. When Thailand’s Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary was overcome by poachers, the Thai government knew that swift action was required. They found the tiger-saving partner they needed in WCS.

    Today, Huai Kha Khaeng is home to a success story: A 30% increase in the population of tigers. We’ve been working in the area since 2004, collaborating with the Thai government to track down poachers and monitor the tiger populations there. Our hard work – and your investment – is paying off.

    In the summer of 2011, WCS-trained rangers helped capture an organized gang of armed poachers responsible for the deaths of at least 9 tigers, and they were convicted by Thailand’s courts. No tigers have been killed in Huai Kha Khaeng since the arrests.

    Because of the collaboration between WCS and the government of Thailand, poaching in Huai Kha Khaeng is decreasing, and the tiger population is increasing. It’s that simple. But we’re not done yet, and we’re counting on the support of people just like you to make sure we save tigers, for good. Chip in $5 today >>

    While we’ve seen successes, the truth is that we could do so much more. Thailand’s tiger landscape is large – and right now we’re only able to work in a small part of it. More resources at our disposal would allow us to expand our reach and save more tigers. We know the region can support five times the number of tigers currently living there: Imagine if that 30% increase in Huai Kha Khaeng’s tigers was 60%, 100%, or even 200%!

    Rebuilding tiger populations takes time – and if we’re going to see Thailand’s tigers flourish, we must guarantee the program’s financial security well into the future.

    And, thanks to WCS’ innovative partnership, your generosity can make a tremendous impact. Every dollar WCS supporters contribute helps us train rangers – the guardians of the jungle – and provide the equipment, rations, and uniforms they need to do their jobs. On top of that, the Thai government chips in another $6 for every $1 from WCS supporters to pay for those guards and monitor, protect, and save tigers.

    With your help, we can do this – we can save the tigers. All it takes is a $5 investment in our groundbreaking work.

    Thank you for your support.

    Sincerely,

    Liz Bennett

    Vice President, Species Conservation
    Wildlife Conservation Society

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