The Species: Indo-chinese Tiger

'Lord of the jungle' on the brink of extinction in Vietnam

Scientific name	Panthera tigris
Conservation status	Endangered
Status in Vietnam	Endangered

For centuries, the tiger has played an important role in world religions and cultures. Images of this magnificent and revered creature, the largest of all cats, can be found carved and painted on pagoda and temple walls throughout Vietnam.

Unfortunately, these depictions are more common today than live tigers. While the elusive tiger is arguably the most widely known inhabitant of the Greater Annamites, it is also now one of the rarest animals in these forests. There are probably no more than 100 tigers in Vietnam and these are highly threatened.

Few animals even come close to matching the trophy value of the tiger. Add this to the insatiable demand for tiger bone for use in traditional medicines and the loss of forest habitat, and it is easy to see why the number of these big cats has declined so dramatically.

After a million years of evolution, and decades of concerted efforts to save the tiger, the 'lord of the jungle' is on the brink of extinction in Vietnam.

As each individual commands and patrols a large territory, it is imperative to protect forests and tiger prey beyond protected areas and across wider landscapes. A tiger may stay within an area of 100km or wander as wide a range as 4,500km.

The loss of forest and the ensuing competition with humans for space has erupted into ever increasing conflicts between tigers and local people, who see them as nothing more than pests, threatening their crops and livestock. Despite being protected by law, these conflicts have put tigers at grave risk.

It is this need to conserve entire landscapes that makes WWF's ecoregion approach to conservation so appropriate. WWF is working to protect the tiger with support from USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).