Hi there!
In line with International Tiger Day (Saturday, 29 July) and as part of our ongoing ‘craftivism’ efforts (that is, using craft as a means of activism), we thought we’d share some important facts about this awareness day and why it’s so important. In the spirit of International Tiger Day, we found this cute little tiger pattern by Lovelyraft, which was so fun to make and is just adorable. If you’re interested in finding out how you can help support conservation efforts for wild tiger populations, as well as purchasing or making your own adorable tiger plushie, keep reading!
Let’s start with some fun facts about tigers:
- A tiger’s stripes are completely unique; like a human fingerprint, each tiger’s markings are distinct. Scientists and conservationists use them to identify individuals in wild tiger populations.
- Despite their reputation as fierce master hunters, only one in ten tiger hunts are successful. A single kill can provide a tiger with up to a week’s food.
- Tigers as a species are far older than modern humans having been around for more than 2 million years. Compared to around 300,000 years for Homo Sapiens, or anatomically modern human beings.
- Tigers can live up to 26 years in the wild.
- The majority of wild tigers live in India, numbering at an estimated 3,000 individuals.
Unfortunately, not all facts about tigers are as fun as these.
Despite being one of the most iconic big cat species, tiger populations have drastically dwindled by over 95% since the beginning of the 20th century. The species’ historical range once spanned from as far west as the Caspian Sea region and covered large parts of Asia. This included most of the Indian Subcontinent, all of Mainland Southeast Asia, the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali, large areas of Eastern China, the Russian Far East and the entire Korean Peninsula. However, today’s wild populations are limited to small pockets scattered across South, Southeast and East Asia.
Shockingly, of the nine tiger subspecies, three have become extinct. These include the Caspian tiger, the Javan tiger and the Bali tiger. For the tiger subspecies that have survived, unfortunately wild populations are dwindling. In fact, there are now more tigers living in captivity than in the wild. Just under 4,000 tigers remain in the wild, compared to roughly 10,000 in captivity.
Since 1986, tigers have been considered an endangered species, and unfortunately human activity is to blame. The leading factor in the decline of the wild tiger population is that their historical habitats have decreased by around 95%. This is due to factors such as deforestation, increased agricultural activity, urbanisation, and land degradation. This has had a knock-on effect on tigers, as it has resulted in increased conflict between humans and tigers. As prey become less plentiful, tigers are forced to roam to find food and establish territories. This can result in tigers ending up in human-dominated areas, increasing their risk of being killed or captured.
How can we help?
To ensure the continued survival of tigers, we can support organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) who are committed to the conservation of endangered species. WWF’s vision is to “build a future in which people live in harmony with nature”, which they work towards by inspiring action in people and institutions to tackle threats to nature and the future of the planet. They rely on facts and scientific evidence to guide them on their mission, and respecting and the knowledge of the communities they serve through collective action and innovation.
One way to support WWF’s mission is to give a one off donation, which will help support their conservation work. However, WWF is certainly not the only organisation committed to the conservation of tigers and other endangered species. BigCatsWildCats has a list of tiger conservation organisations and we strongly encourage you check it out to do your own research.
Want to make / own a little tiger amigurumi of your own?
On a lighter note, visit our Etsy shop DandyKnotsCrochet if you want to purchase a little tiger of your own. If you’re a fellow crocheter, check out the free little tiger amigurumi pattern from Lovelycraft to make your own.