Fantastic news this week. The World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum reported Monday that for the first time in 100 years, the number of tigers in the wild has increased. With all due respect to the beloved creatures who share my home, I have to say tigers have always been my favorite animal. And it has distressed me greatly to see their numbers dwindling year after year. I have feared and still fear they may disappear from the earth before I do.
In 1900, there were an estimated 100,000 wild tigers in the world. That number dwindled steadily to a mere 3,200 in 2010 due to hunting, poaching, and loss of habitat. But the latest count puts the number at 3,890. Improved tracking and counting methods may account for part of the increase, but at least the number has begun to move in the right direction. Finally. And I for one am cheering from the rooftops.
For information about the world’s wild tigers and how all this has come to pass, see “Number of Tigers in the Wild Is Rising, Wildlife Groups Say.”
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