Bangkok, July 27, 2024 – Exciting news for endangered tigers: Thailand’s Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) has seen a remarkable 250 percent increase in tiger populations from 2007 to 2023, rising from around 40 to over 140 individuals.
This success story contrasts sharply with the declining fate of tigers across Southeast Asia, where they have vanished from Java, Bali, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam in recent decades. Today, tigers in the region are primarily found in small, isolated populations in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Myanmar, facing significant threats from poaching and habitat loss.
Pornkamol Jornburom, Director of WCS Thailand, attributes this progress to the rigorous efforts of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). Enhanced patrolling has shielded tigers and their prey from poaching and habitat destruction. “We see strong correlations between improved law enforcement and tiger recovery,” Jornburom noted. “Previously rampant illegal hunting and logging had pushed tigers toward extinction, but effective enforcement is key to their revival.”
For two decades, WCS and the Thai government have closely monitored these efforts. Since 2004, hundreds of camera traps have captured images of tigers, allowing scientists to identify individuals by their unique stripe patterns and track population trends over time.
Somphot Duangchantrasiri, a senior scientist with the DNP, emphasized the significance of a robust monitoring system. “This new study is excellent news for tigers in Thailand. Our goal was to create a reliable system to accurately track recovery efforts, showcasing a successful independent monitoring program.”
As apex predators, tiger populations reflect the overall health of their ecosystems. The team also observed significant recovery in prey species, including the first sightings of banteng, an endangered wild cattle species, in areas where they had not been documented before.
Apinya Saisamornin from WCS and Kasetsart University highlighted the importance of prey abundance for tiger survival, noting a doubling in the numbers of key prey species like sambar deer and banteng in WEFCOM.
The findings paint a picture of comprehensive ecological recovery. Dale Miquelle, a senior conservationist at WCS, stated, “The 250 percent increase in tiger numbers is proof that with long-term commitment and focused interventions, we can save this species. Recovery efforts benefit not only tigers but also the biodiversity of Asia and help mitigate climate change impacts.”
WCS has a longstanding commitment to tiger conservation, dating back to George Schaller’s research on Bengal tigers in the 1960s. This foundation supports WCS’s science-based approach, combining targeted conservation actions with robust monitoring systems to track tiger populations and their environments. WCS is also part of The Tiger Conservation Coalition, uniting experts across various fields to drive large-scale tiger conservation initiatives.
