Wild Tiger Population Worldwide Estimated In 1900
100,000
From the International Tiger Information Center: “Forestry and wildlife departments are too understaffed and under budgeted to be effective against this onslaught (poaching). Conservation efforts that emphasize increased protection for large felids like tigers have failed or are failing across all of Asia. Simply put, tigers are disappearing in the wild. If we continue to maintain the status quo, then we run the risk of losing all wild tigers.”
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Indian Tiger Population In 1900
India has one third of the remaining wild tigers. Estimated loss:
1 Per Day
Figure from The Environmental Investigation Agency, a U.K. Based Study Group.
Project Tiger
From Billy Arjan Singh World Renowned Indian Tiger Expert.
The only man to successfully reintroduce a captive bred tiger to the wild.
“The Government of India, influenced by the overwhelming interest of Mrs. Gandhi, and the offer of a million dollar donation made by Guy Mountfort on behalf of the World Wildlife Fund, initiated Project Tiger in 1972-73. The project was inaugurated in 1973.”
“Project Tiger is now a complete failure.”
“The Indian Forest Department has looked after wildlife for over 40 years, and even the most optimistic claim the Point of No Return has passed.”
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$6 Billion
Annual turnover estimated by Interpol. The illegal wildlife trade is now widely recognized as the world’s second largest racket (after drugs)!
Figures below are reprinted from the article ‘Tiger In Crisis’ by Billy Arjan Singh, director of Tiger Haven, India and submitted to the International Tiger Information Center on October 21, 1997. (That figure has increased dramatically.)
Tiger Skins: $15,000
Tiger Bone: $1,250 per Kilogram
A Bowl Of Tiger Penis Soup: $320 In Taiwanese Restaurants
Should we be so concerned with subspecies?
Billy Arjan Singh: “In any case animals modified over the millennia in conformity with environmental conditions, and economy in dealing with prey varieties, are basically the same animal. It is a fact that tigers have a common ancestry, and this theoretically predicates that an outsize Siberian could evolve into an undersized Balinese.”
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Extinction
The Chairman of the Cat Specialists Group of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) at a Press Conference in New Delhi on the 30th of March, 1995 stated:
“The tiger will be virtually extinct in the wild by 1999.”
(That year has been revised by experts to 2025.)
Final Thoughts
“As the time approaches for final extinction, for me as an individual, and for the tiger as a race, I feel that I should share my thoughts with my countrymen, many of whom do care, for the demoralizing extinction of processes of evolution of animate creatures, by the rapacity of the human race.
We have ravaged the habitat of underground dwellers by the plunder of fossil fuels built up over the millennia and by strip mining. We have razed great timber stands, and unleashed floods and siltation for short-term political motives.
We continue to rob the oceans of their sustainable wealth in international bickerings. We have upset the rhythm of life by the unrestricted proliferation of the human race and savage experimentation with other life forms to preserve our own species….
The final extinction of the tiger, in all its eight subspecies, has been widely and sympathetically written about internationally, but sympathy cannot stem the rot.”
Can we let this happen to such a majestic creature whose ancestors first began to roam the earth over 2 million years ago?
A genetically managed, self sustaining, secure preserve dedicated to saving the tiger as a species via the breeding of healthy generic tigers. Its mission is to maintain and protect these animals in vast natural habitats until a time when they are not considered prey by humans for their medicinal attributes or glamorous skins – a time when the reintroduction of these tigers into their natural wild territories is accepted by a more realistic scientific community. Dr. Michael Bleyman said, “Look at CPT (Carnivore Preservation Trust). It is a prototype for a much larger facility.” The rendition at right is an early concept. We are now planning a village based on old English architecture.
Wild Tiger Population: 2,000? Possibly 1,500?
These are estimates from sources other than researchers, scientists, and government agencies. Many of these people and organizations produce figures that reflect some success in their efforts to save the tiger in the wild. It is estimated that these figures are exaggerated by 100% – 200%. Richard Ives traveled throughout many regions having wild tigers. During his search he spoke with ex-hunters and local preserve wardens. One hunter who lived and hunted in India most of his life estimates there are between 500 and 700 tigers remaining. Based on local reports there may be 100 tigers remaining in Thailand. Their government estimates 400 – 600.
Using sophisticated unmanned cameras an Australian team led by Tony Lynam, a zoologist from Perth, Australia, tracked tigers in Southeast Asia. Out of four major Thai parks he got forty tiger pictures, but these represented only six individuals. In one Thai reserve of 80 square miles, Lynam’s team found a single tiger.
Field scientists have long over estimated the remaining number of tigers in the wild. There is now conclusive evidence even fewer wild tigers remain.
Most predicted total extinction by 2025.
This paper was written in 1998 by Jason Savage, director of the Zoe Foundation. Now it’s 2003. Not much has changed since that time except the illicit animal trade has increased and the South China tiger has been declared extinct in the wild by Ron Tilson (November 2002).