International Tiger Day 2024: Roaring for Conservation

Overview and Significance of International Tiger Day

• Global initiative focused on protecting tiger habitats and raising awareness
• International Tiger Day observed annually on July 29th
• Aims to increase online engagement and interest in tiger conservation
• Threats to tigers: climate change, illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss
• Emphasizes urgent need for action to ensure tiger survival
• Unites people from various backgrounds to support conservation efforts
• Promotes sustainable initiatives benefiting both tigers and local communities
• Underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity and ecosystem balance

International Tiger Day 2024: Date, Theme, and Focus Areas

• Date: Monday, July 29, 2024
• Theme: Raising awareness about tiger conservation and urgent threats

Key focus areas:

a) Combating wildlife crime through intensified efforts

b) Expanding protected areas for tiger habitats

c) Promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities

d) Increasing public understanding of challenges tigers face

• Stakeholders intensifying efforts to address these focus areas
• Emphasis on multifaceted approach to tiger conservation

History and Establishment of International Tiger Day

• Established in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit
• Organized by the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI)
• Participants included Tiger Range Countries (TRCs), international organizations, and conservation groups
• Response to alarming global decline in tiger populations
• July 29th chosen as the midpoint between summit's first and last days
• Symbolizes ongoing global effort to save tigers
• Set goal to double wild tiger population by 2022

Tiger Species and Current Status

• Drastic decline in tiger populations over the past century
• Approximately 100,000 tigers in the wild a century ago
• Current estimates suggest only about 4,000 remaining
• Continued decrease in numbers due to various threats
• Tigers face extinction in many areas

Notable tiger species:

a) White tiger b) Royal Bengal tiger c) Siberian tiger

Conservation Efforts and Challenges

Major threats to tigers:

a) Habitat destruction due to human expansion

b) Poaching for valuable body parts

c) Illegal wildlife trafficking

Conservation initiatives:

a) Eco-tourism projects providing alternative livelihoods

b) Community-based conservation efforts

c) Sustainable forest management practices

Challenges in tiger protection:

a) Balancing human development with habitat preservation

b) Combating sophisticated poaching networks

c) Addressing human-tiger conflicts

• Importance of education and community engagement in conservation efforts
• Need for international cooperation and policy implementation