Tiger images captured by camera traps – WWF Malaysia

This Global Tiger Day, we are pleased to share updates on how wild Tiger numbers are tracking.

Every year on July 29, Global Tiger Day is celebrated to raise awareness for tiger conservation. This day was created following the meeting of the heads of tiger range states during the Year of the Tiger in 2010. The day aims to raise awareness about the critical decline in wild tiger populations and encourage tiger conservation efforts.

In 2010, the global wild tiger population hit an all-time low, with just 3,200 tigers. This led to the world’s 13 tiger range countries coming together to commit to doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, a goal known as TX2.

Each country’s journey towards TX2 has been different, but tiger populations are now increasing in some countries, with the most wild tigers being found in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Russia.

Richmond has been supporting Tiger conservation for the past seven years, with players and Tiger ambassadors Nick Vlastuin and Toby Nankervis visiting Sumatra and Central India to witness first-hand how successful tiger conservation can be achieved.

India is home to the largest population of wild tigers in the world, with approximately 70% of the global tiger population. India’s extensive network of tiger reserves, strong legal protections and community involvement, has been instrumental in stabilising, and in certain regions, increasing tiger numbers

The world’s wild tiger population has increased and is now estimated to be at 5,574.

Tiger images captured by camera traps – WWF Malaysia

However, while tiger populations in some countries are on the rise, they are still declining across Southeast Asia.

Tigers in mainland Southeast Asia remain under threat due to poaching, illegal wildlife trade, decreasing prey, habitat loss and human-tiger conflict. Sadly, every part of the tiger is still traded in illegal wildlife markets – skin, teeth, flesh and bones are all used for traditional remedies and as status symbols.

Identifying an opportunity to support a critical Tiger landscape, Richmond supports WWF Malaysia’s tiger conservation work through funding from its Tiger Conservation Membership.  

Malaysia has less than 150 Tigers, with the Malayan Tiger being classified as Critically Endangered. By working with local communities, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia supports tiger protection by funding Indigenous anti-poaching patrol teams, who remove snares and traps from the forest and report any findings to local authorities.

Earlier this year three of WWF Malaysia’s Tiger Patrol units covered a total of 4,158 kilometres during January to March. During this time one active snare was recorded and one old inactive snare. One poaching / encroachment case was reported to law enforcement agencies during this period, resulting in the arrest of three individuals. Tiger patrol unit staff continued to be trained on anti-poaching strategies. Camera traps continue to be a vital tool in monitoring tiger activity and as of March 2025, a total of 218 camera trap locations, with 436 camera traps, were serviced in Belum-Temengor. 67 camera traps were found damaged by wildlife and 48 camera traps were lost or stolen.

Tiger images captured by camera traps – WWF Malaysia

These patrol teams have reduced active snares by 94% since 2017 in Malaysia’s Belum-Temengor forest complex.

To help us save wild tigers from extinction, you can sign up as a Tiger Conservation member.

Along with supporting WWF via direct funding, you’ll also receive a plush tiger toy, exclusive updates throughout the year about Tiger Conservation activities, competitions, surprise and delights and messages from players, and a general admission ticket to attend a Richmond home game.

WWF Malaysia tiger patrol team in the field. Azlan Mohamed, WWF

To sign up as a tiger conservation member, please visit Richmond FC | TIGER CONSERVATION.

You can also help tigers by:

•    Buying forest-friendly products, like FSC-certified paper and wood products, certified sustainable palm oil and sustainable coffee
•    Not buying anything containing tiger parts when travelling overseas
•    Not partaking in photos with tigers or experiences where you can interact with tigers