Global Tiger Day: Amidst worldwide celebrations and encouraging new numbers, WWF renews call for comprehensive tiger counts

29 July 2013 – Today marked the third annual Global Tiger Day, and as the global festivities and events drew to a close the date concluded on a high note as the Nepalese government announced their latest tiger survey results — revealing that in the Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal, there are now an estimated 198 tigers marking a growth of 63 percent from the last survey of 2009.

Noted Mike Baltzer, Leader, WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative, “These survey findings are significant for two reasons. Firstly, we are delighted to see the population of wild tigers growing. Tigers are in many ways indicative of the broader health of an ecosystem. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, this survey demonstrates that rigorous tracking and counting of wild tigers is more accessible than ever before thanks to new techniques and new technologies.”

Global Tiger Day was established at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010, with the purpose of raising public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues. At this conference hosted by the Russian Government and The World Bank, the 13 tiger range countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam — set the ambitious goal of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022. These 13 governments endorsed the St. Petersburg Declaration, which calls for the doubling of wild tiger numbers up to 6000 in an effort known as TX2.

TX2 calls for a minimum of three comprehensive tiger counts; the first to be held in 2016. “It is critical for the success of reaching TX2 that we know tiger numbers and their distribution in all 13 tiger range countries,” said Mr. Baltzer. “Determining the global tiger population in 2016 and 2020 will promote the TX2 goal, renew global focus and mobilize resources to boost populations in sites that are lagging behind. This is critical in making the 2022 goal a reality and therefore the survival of the tiger.”

Determining the exact number of tigers in the wild is difficult as they are notoriously elusive and often inhabit remote and rugged terrain. For many countries, carrying out tiger counts has been prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. However with improved survey techniques and equipment, particularly cheaper and more durable camera traps, countries are more enabled to carry out these counts. Explained Mr. Baltzer, “These new figures released by Nepal really underscore to the other tiger range countries that new technologies and new methodologies are making it easier than ever to resource the tiger counting which we need to know if we are on track to meeting the TX2 goal.”

The recent India and Nepal collaboration to survey the Terai Arc Landscape utilised these techniques. The survey, conducted early this year and covering protected areas, critical forest corridors, community forests, reserve forests and buffer zones, marks a milestone in Indo-Nepal trans-boundary wildlife research and monitoring collaboration. The shared results, consolidated from the India and Nepal side, will be released later this year.

“Nepal’s results are an important milestone to reaching the global TX2 goal of doubling the number of wild tigers by the year 2022,” stated Megh Bahadur Pandey, Director General of Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. “Tigers are a part of Nepal’s natural wealth and we are committed to ensuring these magnificent wild cats have the prey, protection and space to thrive.”

Nepal, India and Russia are continuously assessing their wild tiger populations in a systematic manner at a national level, with results indicating that tiger numbers in those countries are beginning to stabilise, if not increase. While this may indicate that we are on track towards TX2 in some countries, the same may or may not hold true in the other tiger range countries.

Experts from each tiger range country would need to agree on, as soon as possible, the methods and approaches to make this the first truly global census of wild tigers. Additionally, significant resources will need to be sourced and allocated for the task in each country. Survey results should then be the focus of a major high-level meeting of government heads that would entail an acknowledgement of progress, or lack thereof, and a re-commitment made towards TX2 at the half-way point.

Notes to Editor
• Today the International Workshop for Transboundary Conservation of Tigers and Other Endangered Species, hosted by China’s State Forestry Administration and held with support from organizations including WWF, kicked off in Kunming, China. Representatives from the 13 tiger range countries, as well as key stakeholders and partners, will hold discussions around transboundary cooperation and illegal trade issues. The workshop is part of the Tiger Summit process and is also held in celebration of Global Tiger Day.
• July 31st marks World Ranger Day, an annual event held to recognize the heroes who work tirelessly – often putting their life on the line — to protect endangered wildlife including Tigers. Through its Cards4tigers action, WWF’s Tiger’s Alive initiative has helped collect thousands of postcards — both virtual and physical — from tiger supporters across the globe to help let these rangers know that their efforts are appreciated, supported, and applauded.

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About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.