Tiger Pictures: Photos Of Ferocious Cats And Cuddly Cubs

Some may seem ferocious and terrifying, others cute and cuddly, but all tigers share one thing in common -- they're an endangered species. Tigers (Panthera tigris), which are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, have seen up to a 50 percent decrease in range and population in the past three decades, according to IUCN.

In November 2011, Interpol launched a campaign to save wild tigers in the 13 Asian countries where they still remain, reported the Associated Press. Robert Zoellick, head of the World Bank and founder of the Global Tiger Initiative, said the campaign "will reduce trafficking in tiger parts, with the add-on effect of reducing other wildlife crime in Asia."

Despite efforts to help tiger populations, their habitats remain threatened. A 2012 World Wildlife Fund report alleged that a major Asian paper company whose products are exported to the U.S. may be contributing to Sumatran tiger habitat destruction through deforestation. Recent estimates suggest there are between 441 and 679 wild Sumatran tigers remaining.

Click here to see more images of other threatened and endangered animals, and check out our slideshow below dedicated just to tigers! If you want to help tigers, visit savetigersnow.org or text TIGERS to 20222 to donate $10 directly to tiger protection efforts.

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• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: A Sumantran tiger cub seen on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> A female Bengal tiger in her cage at the zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 29, 2011. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: A Sumatran tiger cub is seen on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with one of her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger (Panthera tigris) is seen at the zoo in Cali, Colombia, on April 21, 2012. Colombia has the second largest biodiversity in the world. AFP PHOTO/Luis ROBAYO

• <em>From Getty:</em> Newborn Siberian tigers Virgil, Thrax and Manu are presented at the Budapest Zoo and Botanic Garden in the Hungarian capital on July 4, 2011. The eight-week-old tigers were presented to the press for the first time with their health checkup and ID chips implanted by the chief doctor of the zoo. AFP PHOTO / ATTILA KISBENEDEK

• <em>From Getty:</em> Tigers play in water at a tiger buddhist temple in Karnchanaburi province, western Thailand on April 24, 2012. Thailand is one of just 13 countries hosting fragile tiger populations and is a hub of international smuggling. Worldwide, numbers are estimated to have fallen to only 3,200 tigers from approximately 100,000 a century ago. AFP PHOTO/PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL

• <em>From Getty:</em> Tigers play in water at a tiger buddhist temple in Karnchanaburi province, western Thailand on April 24, 2012. Thailand is one of just 13 countries hosting fragile tiger populations and is a hub of international smuggling. Worldwide, numbers are estimated to have fallen to only 3,200 tigers from approximately 100,000 a century ago. AFP PHOTO/PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL

• <em>From Getty:</em> Two white tigers cub are pictured on December 5, 2011 at the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. The three-year-old Lisa gave birth on October 8, 2011 to two white tigers belonging to a relatively rare species. AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger cub is pictured on December 5, 2011 at the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. The three-year-old Lisa gave birth on October 8, 2011 to two white tigers belonging to a relatively rare species. AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with one of her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger is pictured in its compound on June 30, 2011, at the Amneville's zoo, eastern France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN

• <em>From Getty:</em> Tigers play in water at a tiger buddhist temple in Karnchanaburi province, western Thailand on April 24, 2012. Thailand is one of just 13 countries hosting fragile tiger populations and is a hub of international smuggling. Worldwide, numbers are estimated to have fallen to only 3,200 tigers from approximately 100,000 a century ago. AFP PHOTO/PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL

• <em>From Getty:</em> A tiger (Panthera tigris) is seen in a lake in the zoo of Cali, Colombia, on April 21, 2012. Colombia has the second largest biodiversity in the world. AFP PHOTO/Luis ROBAYO

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger plays with a plant at the zoo on December 21, 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AFP PHOTO / Yasuyoshi Chiba

• <em>From Getty:</em> A Siberian tiger sniffs a paper-made snowman given by the staff as a Christmas present on December 21, 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AFP PHOTO / Yasuyoshi Chiba

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 21: A Sumatran Tiger cub investigates a wrapped Christmas present at Taronga Zoo on December 21, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 21: A Sumatran Tiger tears apart a wrapped Christmas present at Taronga Zoo on December 21, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 21: Sumatran Tiger cubs tear apart a wrapped Christmas present at Taronga Zoo on December 21, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 21: A Sumatran Tiger tears apart a wrapped Christmas present at Taronga Zoo on December 21, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> Two white tigers cub are pictured on December 5, 2011 at the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. The three-year-old Lisa gave birth on October 8, 2011 to two white tigers belonging to a relatively rare species. AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger, Lisa, is pictured on December 5, 2011 in the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. The three-year-old Lisa gave birth on October 8, 2011 to two white tigers belonging to a relatively rare species. AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger, Lisa, runs on December 5, 2011 in the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. The three-year-old Lisa gave birth on October 8, 2011 to two white tigers belonging to a relatively rare species. AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger, Lisa, drinks water on December 5, 2011 in the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. The three-year-old Lisa gave birth on October 8, 2011 to two white tigers belonging to a relatively rare species. AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah plays with one of her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with one of her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: A Sumatran tiger cub looks through the glass of the tiger display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with one of her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• <em>From Getty:</em> Two months old Sumatran tiger cubs play in their exclosure on September 2, 2011 in Prague Zoo in the capital city. AFP PHOTO/ MICHAL CIZEK

• <em>From Getty:</em> A Malayan tiger, a subspecies of tiger found in the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula, rests in his enclosure at the Zoo of Prague on July 24, 2011. AFP PHOTO / MICHAL CIZEK

• <em>From Getty:</em> A white tiger is pictured in its compound on June 30, 2011, at the Amneville's zoo, eastern France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN

• <em>From Getty:</em> A female Bengal tiger in her cage at the zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 29, 2011. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA

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Comments

[Kim0330]

01:59 PM on 05/09/2012

Wow, such beautiful creatures!

[TSwizzleFan]

10:30 AM on 05/08/2012

SOOOOO CUTE!!!!! I have 9 cats, and i love these pics!!!

[MeganNicole White]

11:09 AM on 05/08/2012

nine cats?!

[TSwizzleFan]

03:02 PM on 05/10/2012

They are all strays that have come up in the past 10 years. My mom has taken care of 16 strays in the past 19 years. When one of our cats dies, within a few months, another one comes up. It's a never ending cycle.

[Mi Pitita]

10:48 AM on 07/09/2012

Me too!! I love so much cats! I have 3 cats, lovely... If you like to see cat pictures, I go sometimes to this website animals-zone.com they have a very cute animal pictures!! Adorable!

[qtiepie]

10:03 AM on 05/08/2012

Tiger World at http://www.tigerworld.us/ is a conservation center that really love their animals and try to make them feel as much at home as possible.

[jpfmtka]

08:58 AM on 05/08/2012

Magnificent kitties!!

[mmvernes]

08:52 AM on 05/08/2012

Kitties rule!!! Big & Little, Wild & Domestic :)

[MeanKittyClaws]

10:08 PM on 05/07/2012

GRRRRRR #9 of 36 the one with the mom tiger grooming her cub..... just incredible majesty in these creatures, human-centric environmental policies stink worse than the worst pollution, human kind needs to clean up its act before its too late.

[Star2000dancer]

08:57 PM on 05/07/2012

God, they're beautiful.

[rg9rts]

05:30 PM on 05/07/2012

~~(^..^)~~(^..^)~~(^..^)~~(^..^)
~~(^..^)~~(^..^)
~~(^..^)

[Mooninnorfolk]

03:44 PM on 05/07/2012

One of the white-tiger photo captions is misleading. White tigers are not a separate species, they are simply a color variation of Bengal tigers. Many white tigers are inbred because zoos and entertainers like Siegfried and Roy purposely try to create them. Breeding white tigers doesn't contribute to conservation, and, in fact, tigers of all colors are so abundant in captivity that they are virtually a dime a dozen, which leads to their being easily acquired by people who don't have a clue about how to care for them and just lock them up in basements or backyard cages. (Remember the Zanesville, Ohio, tragedy?) We need to focus on preserving tigers' habitats instead of breeding more captives who wind up at the mercy of attention-seeking idiots.

[Star2000dancer]

09:04 PM on 05/07/2012

Someday my friend....someday....the sooner, the better. I remember when they had pygmies, & other tribal humans in cage less than a century ago.. We are still soo primative.

[Hayley Cox]

03:19 PM on 05/07/2012

It's such a shame that I have to call myself human and know that my kind have destroyed these beautiful creatures habitat. Long live the tiger!

[catbyte]

12:01 PM on 05/07/2012

Those white tigers are absolutely, stunningly beautiful.

[peacekitten]

11:42 AM on 05/07/2012

no such thing as "tiger overload."

it's just impossible to get enough of these magnificent cats.

[Star2000dancer]

09:05 PM on 05/07/2012

Me-ow! ;)

[peacekitten]

04:40 PM on 05/08/2012

: )

[stkittchick]

11:38 AM on 05/07/2012

If wildlife as we know it is to survive, the primary focus must shift from collections of animals in zoos to habitat preservation in the wild. Keeping animals in cages—in zoos or any animal display—has no positive affect whatsoever on fostering respect for animals in the wild. They are still hunted, poached, captured for display and otherwise decimated. Tigers are a classic example of this.

[Lucy P]

12:03 PM on 05/07/2012

Agree, Stkittchick. People who want to help these magnificent animals should avoid zoos and circuses that use animals, and work to preserve tigers' natural habitat.

[Star2000dancer]

09:05 PM on 05/07/2012

Amen

[nixcow]

08:14 AM on 05/07/2012

There can never be Tiger Overload, we HAVE TO SAVE THEM.

[Hagia]

06:17 AM on 05/07/2012

One more sad, sad thing. Are we selectively breeding the white ones? Or just photographing them a lot?

[Star2000dancer]

09:10 PM on 05/07/2012

Sadder still is the breeding of Ligers and Tygrons. They're born alone and usually have terrible mutations. Then put in a cage. I'd like to cage everyone that does that in their own cage alone in a basement near a cemetary.

See how they feel being some place so aloneand not enviormentally comforting.