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.