Save the Tiger! How to Help Wild Tigers
Want to help protect wild tigers? Conservation efforts have seen tiger numbers increase by nearly 1000 over the past decade to almost 4000 individuals. But, we’re still far off the 100,000 animals that used to roam the planet. Xplore Our Planet looks at ways you can get involved and improve the chances for tigers around the world:
Spread the Word
Education makes a massive difference. Rhino horn trade is down because people got the message out and it’s now more understood that rhino horn possesses no medicinal qualities. Shark finning has seen a decline because people now know the damage their bowl of soup causes. The more people are aware of a problem, the better we can be equipped to fight it. Share your knowledge of tiger threats with friends, family, colleagues and others that will listen. Sign petitions and be part of community movements whenever you can. You don’t have to campaign on the streets, you just have to let people know that tigers have suffered, and will continue to suffer if we don’t help them. Here are some quick facts to help:
Tigers continue to be hunted for their use in medicine. In certain parts of Asia, most heavily in China, their remains are believed to help with healing. This is false.
Tiger habitat is being destroyed to make way for human activity such as logging, residential space and livestock areas. The habitat of the tiger needs protecting.
Tigers are routinely killed or injured in human conflicts where we encroach on the little land they have left. Humans need to learn how to not disrupt tigers.
Tiger food chains are being put under pressure as hunters go after game tigers hunt, and the food stocks themselves dwindle under lack of habitat. The tiger food supply needs to be preserved.
Buy Products That Protect Tiger Habitats
All this is great information, you might say, but how does this help me protect tigers, or share with others how we can protect tigers? A voice is a powerful thing. Enough noise can produce amazing results. Sometimes, support is all a movement needs. But there is more you can do than get behind tigers.
Buy products sourced from rainforest environments that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This ensures the best ethical practice has been followed to procure the products, and that no tiger habitats were damaged. Products that are likely to require such certification include:
Toilet rolls
Coffee
Wooden furniture or timber
Paper
Clothing
Packaging
Beauty products
You can also make sure to buy palm oil products with RSPO approval. Again, this helps to minimise any impact of your consumable goods for tigers by buying from companies that work to harvest palm oil sustainably without tiger habitat loss.
Report Tiger Crimes
This will only apply to a select few, but if you know of people committing crimes against tigers, report them. This would include hunting tigers for sport illegally, buying tiger goods or contributing to trafficking of tigers in any way. It’s rare for people to have this kind of ability, but if you do, help save the tiger and report it.
Donate to Tiger Conservation Causes
Tiger conservation efforts rarely see much support from local governments or public bodies. Most of the time, conservation programmes are supported by private wealth of individuals like you. Organisations like WWF and Born Free will allow you to adopt a tiger, with money raised going towards conservation work. These are not the only charities out there, and plenty of organisations devote themselves purely to tiger conservation. Before you donate money to any group though, do your research. Make sure your money is going where you want it to go, and that these efforts are the best investment in tiger protection.
Commit to Responsible Tiger Tourism
Going to see tigers in the wild? Be a passive tourist. Don’t take part in any activities that could disrupt tiger behaviour, such as baiting tigers out into the open for easy viewing. When you do visit tiger habitats, be sure to carry out sustainable observation. Don’t pollute the area, be quiet and respectful as to not scare tigers away from their homes, and always take away anything you take with you.
