Quick answer
Conservation status for tigers is listed here as Endangered. Threats, population trends, and what protection means in practice.
Key takeaway
Conservation status for tigers is listed here as Endangered. Threats, population trends, and what protection means in practice.
Current status
Tiger (Panthera tigris) is recorded in our guides as Endangered. IUCN categories describe extinction risk at the global level and can differ from national listings.
Main threats
Habitat loss, hunting or persecution, climate pressure, and conflict with people are common drivers. Exact ranking of threats varies by region.
Population outlook
Where monitoring exists, trends depend on protected-area effectiveness and local enforcement. Fragmented populations need corridors and genetic exchange.
What helps
Support verified conservation programmes, reduce demand for illegal wildlife products, and protect habitat. Tourism only helps when operators follow ethical wildlife standards.
How to read the label
"Endangered" is not the only serious category — Vulnerable and Critically Endangered also signal urgent risk. Domesticated animals are not IUCN-threatened in the same way.
Behavior
Unlike lions, tigers are solitary and territorial, coming together only to mate. They are powerful swimmers and, unusually for cats, enjoy water, often cooling off in rivers and lakes. Tigers communicate through scent marks, scratch marks, and vocalizations that can carry for kilometers.
Diet and hunting
Tigers are ambush predators that hunt deer, wild boar, and other large mammals. They stalk silently and use their immense strength to overpower prey, often dragging carcasses far heavier than themselves to cover. A tiger may eat up to 35 kg (77 lb) of meat in one night.
Habitat and range
Tigers once roamed across much of Asia. Today they survive in scattered populations from the snowy forests of the Russian Far East to the mangroves of the Sundarbans and the tropical forests of India and Southeast Asia.
Conservation
Wild tiger numbers crashed in the 20th century due to poaching and habitat loss, with as few as 3,200 remaining around 2010. Intensive conservation has since helped numbers begin to recover in some countries, but tigers remain Endangered.
Research notes
Figures for tigers (Panthera tigris) come from field studies, museum records, and conservation assessments that do not always agree on exact averages. Prefer ranges over single-point claims, and check whether a source describes wild, captive, or mixed populations.
Practical takeaways
If you encounter tigers in the wild, prioritise distance and local guidance. If you care for related domestic or captive animals, match diet and housing to species needs rather than generic pet advice. Share accurate status information (Endangered) when discussing conservation.
Sources
FAQs
Are Tigers Endangered?
Conservation status for tigers is listed here as Endangered. Threats, population trends, and what protection means in practice.
What is the scientific name of the tiger?
Panthera tigris
What do tigers eat?
Carnivore
Where do tigers live?
Forest, grassland, mangrove swamp
Are tigers endangered?
Listed here as Endangered. Check IUCN and national lists for the latest assessment.