Celebrate Tiger Conservation this Year
As we usher in the Year of the Tiger, it's an important time to celebrate tiger conservation. Discovery partnered with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) in 2016, to create Project C.A.T., supporting a global effort to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022.
The support Discovery provides to WWF has helped improve resources to stop poaching, increase monitoring of tiger populations, increase community education & engagement, and conserve almost 6 million acres across four continents to ensure a healthy habitat for future generations of tigers. To learn how you can help, visit projectcat.discovery.com
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A century ago, there were 100,000 tigers on the planet. Only 3,890 tigers are left in the wild today.
The tiger is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, and represents royalty in eastern Asia.
Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world.
Poaching and habitat loss are the main drivers of tiger extinction. With adequate space, prey and protection, tiger populations can rebound rapidly, making conservation work likely to succeed.
All sub-species of tiger are considered endangered or critically endangered by IUCN.
Tiger numbers have grown for the first time in a century thanks to increased protections.
Tigers play vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, which support thousands of species and millions of people.
Every time we protect a tiger, we protect many acres of forest … healthy forests provide clean air, clean water, and food.
Tigers are the only cat species to be completely striped. A tiger’s stripes are not symmetrical, but they are unique to each tiger. No two tigers have the same pattern of stripes.
Tigers can reach speeds up to 40mph.
The hair of the tiger provides camouflage, warmth, and protection. Tigers have 2 types of hair – guard hair and underfur. Guard hair is longer and more durable than the underfur and mainly serves as protection. Underfur traps air insulating the body and keeping it warm.
A tiger’s roar can be heard as far as a mile away.
A tiger’s tail is around 3 feet long and is used for balance as well as visual communication. A loosely hanging tail signifies a relaxed tiger and a rapidly moving tail from side to side or a low held tail with intense twitches signifies aggression.
A group of tigers is called an “ambush” or “streak."
Tigers have been on the planet for about 2 million years.
Tigers have large padded feet that allow them to silently stalk prey. Their claws are retractable, ensuring they remain sharp and allowing them to tread silently on unsuspecting prey.
Tigers have 5 different types of whiskers that detect sensory information and are differentiated by their location on the body.
Tigers are carnivores, mainly feeding on large mammals such as deer, antelope, and buffalo.
To learn more, visit projectcat.discovery.com