International Tiger Day: A Big Cat in Big Trouble

Some tiger facts for International Tiger Day

Tigers are big cats that buck the norm. First, they’re the biggest of their kind – with Amur tigers weighing up to 400lbs and measuring 10 feet nose to tail. Then, whereas most cats have an aversion to water, tigers love taking leisurely dips and swims. And although spots are quite common on big cats (even lions have faint ones on their bellies), only tigers are bold enough to have stripes.

Here are some other tiger facts to help us celebrate International Tiger Day.

• There could be as few as 4,000 tigers left in the wild
• There are five different sub-species: Bengal, Amur, Sumatran, Indochinese, and Malayan. A sixth sub-species, the South China tiger now only exists in captivity, with approximately 40 individuals left.
• Tiger stripes are like human fingerprints and are unique to each individual. In fact, tiger stripe patterns are how we monitor tiger populations in the wild.

Tigers influencing culture

Tigers clearly capture our imaginations. Shere Khan, Tigger, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and even Richard Parker have all graced some of our favourite books and films. And they’ve been doing so for centuries. Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ introduced us to the villainous Khan in 1894. And William Blake’s famous poem, The Tyger, (tyger, tyger, burning bright) was published in 1794. But not only have they inspired writers of the past, tigers especially inspire our supporters – whether to make a difference by donating to our Big Cat Appeal, or by putting pen to paper – as Lisa Sherwood did with her poem below.

SAVE THE TIGER by LISA SHERWOOD

Topaz eyes cut through jungles,

Through taigas, through water

As the tiger rises like a spirit awakened

He hunts with heartless precision

But he knows the superstition

Of his power and his fame

Topaz eyes watch with consternation,

Intuition and blame

He knows what has been taken away

He knows the heartbroken revelation

Of life in zoos or behind a cage

He is worshipped, feared and idolized

For his courage and his face

Some want to sacrifice all of him

For money and medicine with no shame

Some want to hunt him

For sport and private exhibition

But habitat destruction and his injured state

Is an unbalanced world made

Topaz eyes may soon see no more

For greed is a demon that waits

Will his hunters put down their guns

And stop the strangled will of snares

And let the tiger walk away

Let his roar be heard around the world

While the time of the tiger is still here

For we can choose to liberate and fight

Or mourn his final day.

Why does there need to be an International Tiger Day?

Unfortunately, despite our enduring fascination with tigers, they, like most big cat species, are in trouble. In 1900, it was estimated that there were over 100,000 tigers widespread across Asia. Today, their numbers have been reduced to as few as 4,000 – meaning a drastic 96% decrease in not much more than a century.

Hunting, poaching, both the illegal and legal wildlife trade, as well as habitat loss, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict continue to claim the lives of tigers daily.

Although they are no longer hunted as a big game animal in their native Asia, ‘canned’ hunting operations in countries including South Africa mean their value as a sporting trophy has not diminished as much as we think.

Demand for tiger bone and other parts as status symbols and in traditional medicine, makes them a prize for poachers too. Since the 1970s, demand for tiger products has soared, with international criminal gangs and syndicates creating a black-market trade feeding a larger illegal industry worth as much as $23 billion.

Forest fires and flooding, causing devastation to precious and vulnerable ecosystems mean climate change has severely impacted precious tiger habitats, isolating and cutting off many threatened populations.

And then, what little habitat that remains continues to be encroached on by humans, claiming it for grazing, agriculture, and settlement. In such instances, if tigers kill livestock (where they can’t find other prey) or are active around humans, they can be killed out of fear and retaliation.

A changing world

This aspect of how such encroachment can lead to human-wildlife conflict was captured by wildlife photographer, Nejib Ahmed, whose image was highly commended as part of Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Nejib has kindly given us permission to feature the photo and his story as part of our Big Cat Appeal.

The photograph captures the chaos and fear that ensued when a tigress was spotted in a paddy field in Borsola village, near the Orang National Park in the Indian state of Assam. The adult tigress was spotted wandering in a nearby harvested paddy field. The villagers, startled by her sudden presence, threw stones and set the dry paddy on fire, causing the tigress to panic and react defensively, charging towards the group to escape. One villager, who attempted to confront the tigress with a long bamboo pole, almost inevitably, became her target. She chased him and even bit his hand – but by only suffering minor injuries shows the tigress intended escape over confrontation. In fact, it was clear that the tigress was only attempting to scare the crowd and protect herself. As soon as the dynamic changed, she retreated towards forest again. The photograph highlights the vulnerability of big cats and their habitat in the region and serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the balance of nature and addressing human-wildlife conflicts.

Tiger art

Another way to support DSWF and celebrate our wildlife art heritage, is to purchase any of the three specially selected David Shepherd tiger prints that have are available at a special price for a limited time to support International Tiger Day.

‘When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Tiger’ captures the curious, naïve playfulness that comes with being a youngster in the wild.

‘Teenage Tiger’ gives us insight into the world of a tiger as it learns to navigate its wild home, its expression more alert and its stance more purposeful.

‘Study for Tiger Fire’ shows the work that went towards one of David Shepherd’s most famous depictions of a tiger and completes the journey this series of prints depicts.

Support our Big Cat Appeal to help save tigers from extinction

Unfortunately, tigers are not alone in their plight. Lion populations are also decreasing across Africa, and the elusive snow leopard is losing the fragile grip it has on its Himalayan home.

But your support can make a BIG difference for the world’s big cats. With your help, we can equip rangers and support more patrols, fund groundbreaking research, and safeguard a securer future for tigers and all our big cats. Please help us reach our goal by donating today or adopting if you can.