About Tigers

Known worldwide for its distinctive stripes and imposing size, the tiger (Panthera tigrisem) is one of the world’s most iconic wildlife species. While tigers are ubiquitous in culture, sports and entertainment, they are much rarer in the wild and are now close to extinction, with only about 4,500 wild individuals remaining. But tiger habitat remains, giving us hope for a dramatic recovery if we rally behind tigers and protect them from poachers, human-cat conflict and habitat fragmentation.

Tigers Forever

Through our Tigers Forever Program, we are monitoring populations of tigers and their prey, supporting counter-poaching efforts to secure protected areas and connecting and protecting tiger habitats alongside our partners in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand.

IUCN Status: Endangered

The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List lists tigers as Endangered.

©STEVE WINTER

Huge Territories

Tigers require vast swaths of land, with territories up to 1000 km2 recorded for males in Northeast Asia.

© Nick Garbutt

Close to Extinction

Only 4,500 tigers remain in the wild.

© Karin Saucedo

Unique Stripe Patterns

No two tigers have the same stripe patterns, which helps us identify and monitor individual tigers over time.

© Steve Winter/National Geographic

The Largest Big Cat

The biggest tigers weigh up to 660 lbs and are typically found in India and Northeast Asia.

© Steve Winter

Versatile Hunters

Tigers can thrive in starkly different environments ranging from temperate forests to mangrove swamps, tropical jungles and snowy, mountainous terrain. They are also powerful swimmers!

© Nitish Madan

Our Goals

Increase tiger numbers at key sites across their range

Connect populations across priority landscapes

Measure the effectiveness of our efforts

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6

Panthera project sites with evidence of stable or growing tiger populations

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50

Percentage by which we aim to increase tiger numbers at key sites across Asia over 10 years

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600+

rangers and conservation practitioners trained by Panthera

Our Impact

Where We Work

Countries: Malaysia and Thailand. We also work with organizations and government entities in India, Indonesia and Nepal.

Where Do Tigers Live?

Tigers live mainly in the forests of tropical Asia, though they also roam colder climates like those in Northeast Asia. Breeding populations can still be found in 10 countries, including Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, China and Russia.

  • Historic Tiger Range
  • Current Tiger Range

Tiger FAQs

Question

Is there still hope for tigers?

Answer

Yes, there is hope for tigers. Despite losing 93% of their historic range in the past two centuries, a few populations have recovered in the last decade thanks to conservation efforts. The 2022 Panthera-led IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Assessment estimated 4,500 wild tigers worldwide, compared to 3,200 in 2015. This potential increase reflects a better understanding of tiger populations, as well as the first potential climb in decades. Further, the assessment indicates that nearly 1 million km2 of potential tiger habitat remain vacant and capable of hosting recoveries in the future.

Conservation organizations have discovered and are implementing the “recipe” for successful tiger conservation: increasing protected tiger habitats, preventing poaching, and collaborating with tiger range governments and communities. However, several challenges still need to be addressed to ensure tigers' long-term survival and inclusive and collaborative conservation initiatives are key to better outcomes for tigers.

Question

Why do tigers have stripes?

Answer

Tigers’ stripes allow them to blend into their environment and sneak up on prey, whether in tall grass, lush forests or another type of environment. Tigers’ main prey, deer, can’t see red so they appear green and black, further helping them camouflage.

Question

What do tigers eat and how do tigers hunt?

Answer

Tigers prefer wild pigs, deer and wild cattle (including gaur, which can weigh up to 3,300 lbs!) across their habitats. They also opportunistically hunt birds, fish, reptiles and other smaller mammals like monkeys and porcupines. Tigers usually hunt during morning and evening when their prey are most active, stalking prey and then ambushing them with an explosive burst of energy.

Question

Do tigers purr or roar?

Answer

Tigers cannot purr continually. Instead, they can roar thanks to unique modifications of the larynx and an elastic hyoid structure. To communicate amongst themselves, tigers are also known to chuff, which is a non-threatening vocalization.

Question

Why are tigers Endangered and what is threatening them?

Answer

Poaching and habitat loss have driven the significant decline in tigers over the last century. Additionally, tigers are illegally killed for their body parts, usually sold for use in Traditional Medicine as part of the Illegal Wildlife Trade. The species is also threatened by conflict with humans and overhunting of prey species.

Question

How many cubs do tigers have? How long do cubs stay with their mother?

Answer

Tigers usually have litters of two to five cubs. After three to five months, the cubs are weaned off their mother’s milk. By 18 to 24 months, they are fully independent. Males disperse widely, while females tend to stay closer to their mother’s territory.

Question

What is the average lifespan of a tiger?

Answer

The average lifespan of a tiger in the wild is between 10 and 15 years.

Question

What does Panthera do to protect tigers?

Answer

Panthera protects tigers by preventing poaching, disrupting the illegal wildlife trade and protecting the places where tigers breed. In partnership with national governments and local communities, we help train and equip anti-poaching rangers to deter and respond to poaching incidents safely and effectively. We work with local judiciary members to increase prosecutions and penalties for members of the criminal syndicates who are devastating tiger habitats and populations. We are also increasing the size and connectivity of crucial tiger habitats by advocating for expanded or new protected areas. Finally, supporting sustainable livelihoods for local communities helps reduce their dependence on unsustainable resource extraction (like prey hunting and wood harvesting) from tiger habitats.

Question

How can I help tigers?

Answer

The top ways to support tigers are to donate to Panthera, learn more about the issues facing tigers (including illegal wildlife trade, biodiversity loss and poaching) and support government representatives that protect nature and endangered species.

Securing A Viable Future For Tigers

Six NGOs (including Panthera) that support the Global Tiger Initiative and Global Tiger Recovery Program created a series of recommendations for tiger range country governments to consider when defining their tiger recovery programs.

Tiger Dialogues

Tiger Dialogues is a series of moderated panel discussions, co-hosted by WWF-India, WCS-India and Panthera, exploring tiger conservation in a historical light with exciting insights into the past, present and future of the species’ survival. Learn more and watch previous panels.

Ensure their tomorrow with your gift today.

© Sebastian Kennerknecht