Make no exception: tigers are endangered and their numbers have been dwindling in recent decades. But, in lieu of all the bad news surrounding this magnificent creature, at least there is some good news for a change.
Conservation groups say that the count of wild tigers is up. The tally, tragically, is an estimated 3,890. But it's a drastic increase from the estimated 3,200 wild tigers that were in existence in 2010.
Experts say that India is host to over half the living wild tigers on our planet, with an estimated 2,226 of them living there. Even with these newer reflections, caution is aired. Namely because there may be just as many tigers in the wild as there was in 2010, but that we just have a more efficient means of tallying their count today with added areas being surveyed.
Go back to the early 1900s, and tigers were aplenty, with over 100,000 inhabiting the earth.
The world conservation bodies that be wish to increase this count by 50% by the year 2022. Big celebrity names that include Leonardo DiCaprio are on board.
"Tigers are some of the most vital and beloved animals on Earth," DiCaprio wrote in an issued statement. "I am so proud that our collective efforts have begun to make progress toward our goal, but there is still so much to be done."
Some countries are doing better to conserve than others. India and Russia, for example, have seen an increase in numbers while many countries in Asia have actually seen a decline.
In Cambodia, a reintroduction effort is underway after the government there declared them extinct (inside of its borders). Basically, that means without any breeding pairs, the animals will slowly become extinct. But fortunately, with reintroduction, this won't be the case.
Habitat loss and poaching top the list of why the numbers are down so drastically for this species in recent decades. But with newer efforts and awareness campaigns underway, these beautiful animals have the potential to make a strong comeback.
So what can you do to help? There are a number of nonprofit institutions that are dedicated to helping this species make a comeback. One of them that you can begin your search to help at is called Save Wild Tigers.