Numbers of Tigers in the World: Stats and Info (yr 2016)

About two years ago I wrote my last post in this blog. I haven't continued for many reasons. But if you're new here you wouldn't know that. Anyway, here are the current number of tigers in comparison with the previous number. All numbers are acquired through field surveys and some are rough estimates. There are 13 tiger countries in total. I put 2015 for field surveys and 2016 for "rough estimate" because, well, it makes sense.


TOTAL NUMBER
Previous (yr 2010) : 3200

Current (2015)  : 3890


INDIA (has most of the world's tigers)

Previous (2010) : 1706

Current (2015) : 2226



BHUTAN

Previous (unknown): 75 (not field survey)

Newest (2015) : 103  (first ever field survey)



NEPAL

Previous (2009) : 117

Current (2015) : 198



RUSSIA

Previous (unknown) : 360

Current (2015) : 443



INDONESIA

Previous (unknown) : ???

Current (2016) : 371 (rough estimate)



MALAYSIA

Previous (unknown) : ???

Current (2015) : 250



CHINA

Previous (around 2010) : it is estimated that there were zero tigers but there was no field survey

Current (2016) : 7 (rough estimate. no field survey)



VIETNAM

Previous (unknown) : ???

Current (2016) : 5 (rough estimate. no field survey)



LAOS

Previous (unknown) : ???

Current (2016) : 2 (rough estimate. no field survey)



CAMBODIA

Previous (unknown) : ???

Current (2016) : 0 (rough estimate. no field survey)



MYANMAR

Unknown. No survey conducted.



BANGLADESH

Drop from 440 to 106 but this could be because the first number was not from a field survey.
(Which just sounds like an excuse to me.)



THAILAND

Current (2015) : 189



WAIT. What are Field Surveys?

You're probably wondering what a field survey is. First, tigers' stripes are like our finger prints. No two tigers are the same. Which is cool and handy dandy. So, field researchers will set up camera traps to capture the tigers' pics.

Oh hello there!

Ah yes, the Sundarbans. This is one of the areas in INDIA that tigers live. More info on the Sundarbans HERE.

Another way, which, apparently isn't very favorable cuz you do have to drug the tiger for your own safety...collaring. You shoot a tiger with stuff that makes them sleepy and sloppy and you put a radio tracking collar around their necks. It is linked to a satallite and while you're at it, you take a bunch of samples like fur and claws and check their teeth and measure a bunch of stuff.

Tiger with radio collar tracking device thing.

Apparently it's also seen as stressful for the tiger and some people fear that the tiger might get overdosed or while he/she is sloppy and sleepy another tiger might attack or something and it can get dangerous. Let's make it clear, it's not favorable to use a radio collar on a tiger.

Finally, you need to track their paws. Pawprints to be exact. And anything else they might have left behind, poo (yep, that's right), claw marks, leftover meals (gross but it's evidence a tiger has been there), or tufts of fur (tigers are just big kitty cats. they shed, too).

Couldn't find any good pawprint pics but anyway, that's how field researchers collect data on tigers. It's a long process no doubt but the results are rewarding (I'm guessing).

TX2 aims to double wild tigers by 2022 which is the next year of the tiger. Is it possible? I hope so.

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References

National Geographic: Tiger Numbers Rise for First Time in a Century (published Apr 10, 2016)

WWF Stories: An Amazing 103 Wild Tigers Counted in Bhutan (published Jul 29, 2015)

WWF Stories: For the first time in 100 years, tigers numbers are growing (published Apr 10, 2016)

WWF: TX2 website