Southeast Asia’s Declining Tigers Darken Global Recovery Efforts
While tiger populations are rebounding in parts of Asia, numbers are plummeting in Southeast Asia, posing challenges to international goals of doubling wild tigers globally by 2022.
Tiger Census Submissions to CITES
Countries submitted population data to CITES wildlife treaty from 2010-2022 under the Global Tiger Recovery Program. Overall there was a 60% rise to 5,870 tigers.
Stark Regional Divide in Tiger Trends
South Asia saw gains, but Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam populations declined, making Southeast Asia’s situation “grim.”
Factors Driving Southeast Asia Declines
Poaching, poor monitoring, habitat loss for development, proximity to wildlife trade hubs, and weak law enforcement caused drops.
Habitat Protection Keys South Asia Success
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and China/Russia saw tiger increases thanks to habitat conservation and protection steps. Nepal tripled its tigers.
Habitat Loss Threatens All Tigers
The report warns habitat fragmentation from deforestation for infrastructure and logging degrades tiger landscapes across its range.
Urgent Action Needed
Without policy change and resources to address Southeast Asia poaching and habitat loss, remaining tiger populations face local extinction.
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Month: Current Affairs - November, 2023
Category: Environment Current Affairs