Global Wild Tiger Population Sees Significant Recovery, Reaching 5,500 by 2024

The global population of wild tigers has seen a remarkable uptick, rising from roughly 3,200 individuals in 2010 to around 5,500 by 2024. This increase is attributed to the successful conservation efforts in various countries, particularly China, Russia, India, and Nepal, where the wild tiger populations have doubled. This assessment was made public during the 2nd International Forum on the Conservation and Recovery of Tigers and Leopards taking place in Harbin, located in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Over the past ten years, there has been a notable reversal of the declining trends in wild tiger populations. Zhou Fei, the deputy director-general of the WWF Beijing Representative Office, highlighted the effective restoration of wild tiger habitats in China, which has contributed to a gradual rise in their numbers. As apex predators, tigers serve as key indicators of ecosystem health, and their increased populations signal positive environmental changes. China has prioritized the conservation of wild tigers, implementing various measures including the establishment of national parks, hunting restrictions, and a complete ban on the trade and medicinal use of tiger bones.

Significantly, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has been a key initiative in these conservation efforts. Encompassing an area of over 1.4 million hectares, this park straddles the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang. Current data from the park indicates that around 70 wild Siberian tigers, who are among the most endangered species and emblematic of forest ecosystems, now reside there, including the birth of 20 tiger cubs in 2023 alone.