How DSWF is protecting tigers

The largest of the big cat species, the tiger (Panthera tigris) is one of the world’s most iconic yet endangered mammals.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, nine subspecies of tiger roamed the Asian wilderness, with estimated populations of over 100,000.

Shockingly, in less than 100 years, tigers have lost 93% of the land area where historically the species used to be found, three subspecies have become extinct, and tiger populations have plummeted by 96% to as few as 3,800 in the wild today. Find out more about why tigers are endangered.

How DSWF is protecting tigers:

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) is helping to protect wild tiger populations throughout Asia.

We fund ground-based tiger conservation initiatives in India, Thailand and Russia, and provide funding for undercover investigations and exposés into the illegal wildlife trade.

DSWF also calls for a total ban in all tiger parts and derivatives through the Foundation’s TigerTime campaign.

Through these ground-based projects, lobbying on a governmental level and supporting law enforcement, habitat protection, education and community engagement programmes, DSWF is fighting from grass roots to the world-stage to protect this iconic species and give it the best possible chance of survival in the wild.

DSWF has been fighting wildlife crime across Asia since it was founded in 1984. Through funding ranger and law enforcement programmes the Foundation provides a powerful voice for tiger conservation across the continent.

Our monitoring and anti-poaching efforts in Russia and Thailand continue to help rangers and law enforcement experts in their efforts to reduce wildlife violations and protect wild tiger populations.

DSWF strives to protect wild tigers by funding conservation projects that work directly in the affected areas.

For example, DSWF has funded the rehabilitation and removal of illegal logging routes in prime tiger habitats, ensuring that illegal activity and human presence in protected areas doesn’t affect wild tiger populations.

We also fund extensive law enforcement training exercises and anti-poaching patrols in Russia, Thailand and India to ensure the protection of the species in their wild habitats.

Education and community participation are fundamental in ensuring a sustainable future for both people and wildlife.

It is vital to engage with communities, and DSWF currently funds multiple annual art competitions for children, promoting careful and respectful attitudes towards Amur tigers. Similar activities are supported in India.

The Foundation also funded a festival in the Russian Far East which attracted more than 18,000 attendees to promote conservation and to encourage respect and co-existence between humans and tigers.

With your donations, DSWF will continue to support:

• Wildlife rangers patrolling vital habitats to deter illegal poaching and hunting activity
• Undercover investigations and exposés into the illegal wildlife trade
• Campaigns to end the trade in tiger parts and derivatives
• Fighting to ensure the closure of all captive tiger breeding facilities
• Monitoring key wild tiger populations to ensure viable and safe breeding conditions in their natural habitat
• Education awareness initiatives across local communities living alongside and most affected by wild tigers
• Judicial and legal workshops into the impact of the illegal wildlife trade and how best to ensure successful prosecutions and convictions for those engaging in illegal activity.