The Final Nail in the Coffin

When DSWF was founded 40 years ago, one of the three initial species we chose to adorn our logo was the tiger – and its silhouette is still there today. It reflects not only the cultural and historical fascination with tigers forged over centuries but also our longstanding commitment to their protection.

When most people think of tigers, they conjure up images of thick, warm pelted Amur tigers wading through white landscapes or the majestic Bengal tiger prowling on powerful paws through dense jewel-green jungles. Whilst working tirelessly for decades to support both sub-species, DSWF has also been instrumental in the recovery of the lesser-known and even more endangered Indochinese tiger.

So when tiger tracks were discovered east of Main Route 348 Highway of Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex in Thailand, it caused a ripple of excitement through ranger teams. The tiger was well known to the rangers, being a big male that had been monitored since 2017. Yet, the ease of locating him and his tolerance of the approaching humans soon turned hope into serious concern. With his tracks being found close to a road, it was feared he’d been injured by a vehicle and his mobility had been compromised. Another possibility was that a disease like canine distemper virus was slowing him down, the impact of which has been long anticipated due to the proximity of unvaccinated dogs from nearby villages.

As plans were made to capture the male, treat it, and release it back into Dong Yai, fate tragically intervened and the tiger succumbed to its wounds. During the postmortem shortly after, the rangers made a grim discovery highlighting how the death of this single tiger represents the complex and numerous threats they face. Whilst human encroachment meant the risk of disease was high and a potential vehicle collision was an equally probable cause in his demise, it was presence of bullets that was the final nail in his coffin.

Within its body, the tiger was carrying three ballistic slugs – the homemade kind favoured by poachers, fired from their old muzzle-loading guns. Whilst tigers aren’t necessarily the target species for these illegal hunters, more often after deer and wild boar, when confronted by a carnivore that can measure nine feet long and weigh up to 430lbs, panic is inevitable and shots are fired.

The slugs had not caused the tiger’s immediate death, just untold pain, but combined with disease or injury it was simply all too much for the tiger to survive.

Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Another tiger, monitored over a 300km journey from western to northern Thailand, was hit and killed by a ten-wheeler truck. Its postmortem also revealed seven shotgun slugs in its body. This reoccurring theme shows the raft of challenges these animals face; diseases, bullets and collisions in abundance. Enough to bring down even the strongest of jungle kings.

One tiger. Multiple threats. Overwhelming odds. And with less than 300 individual Indochinese tigers left in the wild, every tiger counts.

This is why DSWF work so hard, in often the most remote and lesser-known habitats, to protect this vitally important sub-species. As an organisation we have faced even greater odds in other tiger landscapes and come out winning. In the 1980’s we helped bring back the Amur tiger from almost certain extinction proving with concentrated and strategic effort the odds can be reversed. We are equally committed to ensuring the same fate for the last remaining Indochinese tigers of Thailand and Cambodia.

Support our appeal ‘In The Footsteps of Giants‘ – protecting the species that make up our logo; tigers, elephants and rhinos: