International Tiger Day: Prevent the Extinction of Wild Tigers
Wake Up Call
With only 3000 tigers left in the wild, 200 less than 2013, the number of tigers in the wild is at its lowest ever. The statistics are sobering: in just over 100 years, we have lost 97% of all wild tigers.Image Source: http://tigerday.org/
Causes
Major contributors towards the drastic decline in wild tiger numbers include:Habitat Loss
The tigers’ habitat has been put at a serious risk, with 93% of their habitat lost due to city and agricultural expansion. 100 sq Km of forest is only sufficient to support about 16 tigers. Smaller areas of habitat have made tigers more vulnerable to inbreeding and poaching.Human Wildlife Conflict
The growing human population has left tigers and humans competing for space. For communities living in close proximity to tiger forests, tigers are a major concern. Since tigers’ habitats are shrinking and their choice of natural prey is decreasing, they are bound to hunt domestic livestock. Not only are humans losing the livestock on which they depend , but their own lives are at risk. The result is that these ‘conflict tigers’ are often killed or captured for black markets.Hunting
Tigers are often hunted for their skins or for decorative purposes. In China, tiger meat and bones are believed to have beneficial medicinal value which has lead to a massive illegal trade of tiger parts.Climate Change
The Sundabans is a large mangrove forest hosting one of the world’s largest tiger populations. The forest is situated on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean, stretching across areas of India and Bangladesh. Unfortunately, rising sea levels as a result of climate change are posing a major threat to the forest’s existence. The WWF have estimated that without significant efforts to slow down climate change, the forest could be destroyed by the ocean by 2070.Get Involved
As overwhelming as these facts may seem, we have the ability to make a difference:Raise Awareness
Social media platforms are great for raising awareness of the wild tiger’s plight. Show your support by sharing 21st Century’s Tiger or International Tiger Day posts or tweet about #tigerday. Take it a step further by making use of 21st Century’s Facebook cover images or by adding a Twibbon to your Twitter or Facebook profile.Donate



Shop Wisely
Palm oil is found in approximately half of all packaged foods as well as in soaps, cosmetics and fuel for cars and power plants. Although the oil has multiple benefits, it holds a great threat to the environment. Tigers are being put at a direct risk - the deforestation taking place in Sumatra and Malaysia due to palm oil crop plantations is a serious concern for tiger habitats.