Asian Tiger

In a significant development, 10 Asian countries, including India, have pledged USD 1 billion over the next decade towards protecting and expanding vital tiger habitats across the continent.

About Tiger (Panthera Tigris)

• Tiger, (Panthera tigris) is the largest memberof the cat family (Felidae) and also the earliest Panthera member to exist.
• Primarily a forest animal, they range from the Siberian taiga to the Sunderban delta.
• In the wild, tigers are found in India, Nepal, China, Russia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Sumatra (Indonesia) and Malaysia.
• It is the national animal of India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and South Korea.
• Status: Endangered
• Since 2015, the global tiger population has increased from 3,200 in 2015 to approximately 4,500 in 2022. 
• The five surviving sub species of tiger are 
  • Indian Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger(Panthera tigris tigris) found in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh; 
  • Indo-Chinese tiger(Panthera tigris corbetti) mainly found in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia but are also found in Myanmar, Southern China, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; 
  • Siberian or Amur Tiger(Panthera tigris altaica) found in far east Russia;
  • Sumatran Tiger(Panthera tigris sumatrae) found in the Indonesian island of Sumatra; 
  • South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) found in China. The population found in Peninsular Malaysia has been given a status of separate sub species Panthera tigris jacksoni.