Once upon a time, Thailand was known for tigers, but today its number is dwindling. Tiger population in the nation has been dynamic while having reduced greatly due to factors such as habitat loss, hunting and wildlife trade. However, there is a positive outlook due to current conservation efforts especially those involving the WEFCOM, where tiger numbers have recently tripled.
Tiger sightings in Thailand’s wild have been infrequent. However, the recently identified population of the endangered Indochinese tiger was in the eastern region’s Thailand national parks. They estimated that today, the world is home to less than 250 tigers, but conservation efforts that include protection patrols and wildlife law enforcement have helped increase the numbers.
Due to immense human activities in the region in the recent past many years, many conservation agencies view this event of tiger to be unique. Previously one of the attractions of tourists in Kanchanaburi was the Tiger Temple, which elicited attention to some problems concerning captured tigers in Thailand.
Officially called Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yanasampanno, the temple became widely popular at the end of the 1990s as one of the places where tourists could take pictures with tigers and cubs. Despite appearing to have a good relationship between the monks and the tigers, the temple was accused of breeding and smuggling.
In 2016, a massive raid revealed the grim reality, with dead cubs and tiger-related products confiscated. Thus, the local people closed the temple and moved the tigers inhabiting that area away.
It is now possible to touch a tiger or even take a picture with a tiger at Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai and Phuket. These venues claim to responsibly raise tigers from a young age without resorting to drugging or mistreatment. However, the harboring of such massive and strong animals in captivity continues to raise animal rights issues.
Tiger sightings in Thailand’s wild have decreased, but a recent finding has given people hope. The Western Forest Complex has seen a resurgence of the endangered Indochinese tiger, which is found in small numbers throughout Southeast Asia.
According to estimates, the number of tigers in this region climbed from 41 to 143 between 2007 and 2023 thanks to the use of video trap technology and more frequent conservation patrols. Years of coordinated conservation, law enforcement, and anti-poaching efforts are responsible for this outstanding recovery.
The vast, interconnected forest region that crosses national parks and wildlife sanctuaries is the key to WEFCOM’s success. Tigers and other endangered animals, such hornbills and Asian elephants, can travel safely across the protected zones. Furthermore, tiger populations have increased due to the rise in prey species like banteng and sambar deer, underscoring the significance of preserving a healthy ecosystem.
Thailand’s strategy provides a template for other nations, even though tigers are still in danger in other Southeast Asian nations. The future of tigers in Thailand would appear more promising if ranger patrols, anti-poaching initiatives, and habitat preservation are sustained. However, conservationists emphasize that every tiger matters and that ongoing attention is necessary to save the species from going extinct.
