The first IUCN Green Status of Species assessment for the tiger (Panthera tigris) finds that the world’s largest cat is Critically Depleted after a century of population decline, but also shows that conservation has prevented even greater losses and provides hope for recovery of tigers across their range.
Led by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with WWF, Panthera, and other partners under the auspices of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Cat Specialist Group, the assessment is the most comprehensive evaluation yet of tiger recovery potential. It provides a new perspective on the effectiveness of conservation, measuring not only how close the species is to extinction, but how far it has progressed—or could progress—toward full ecological recovery.
Tiger Recovery possible
The assessment classified the tiger as “Critically Depleted,” reflecting the severe historical and ongoing threats, including habitat loss, prey depletion, poaching, and regional extinctions. Tigers are now extinct in nine of the 24 spatial units evaluated and are threatened in all spatial units where they still persist. Although the species is considered globally Endangered under the IUCN Red List, in more than half of the spatial units where the species still occurs, the species is considered regionally Critically Endangered.
Despite this precarious state, the assessment reveals that conservation has played a decisive role in preventing even greater collapse, potentially putting the species onto the slow road to recovery. Tiger numbers have increased in the first time for more than a century, and the tiger’s Conservation Legacy is rated High, showing that sustained protection efforts have significantly slowed declines and prevented the species from vanishing in up to seven spatial units. Without conservation action over the past decades, tigers would likely would have faced extinction across most of their range.
“This assessment shows that tigers, though Critically Depleted, are far from a lost cause,” said Luke Hunter, Executive Director of the Big Cat Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society and lead author of the assessment. “Thanks to conservation, they have survived the worst century in their history. With renewed commitment and collaboration, they can recover across much of their range. If tigers were restored to all suitable, historic habitat, either by natural recolonization or reintroduction, there could be over 25,000 tigers living in the wild—over five times the current global population.”
“Recent tiger recoveries, particularly in South Asia, inspire hope for the species, highlighting the considerable potential to boost tiger populations and restore their ecological roles,” said Abishek Harihar, Director, Tiger Program at Panthera. “Nonetheless, Southeast Asia remains in crisis, with steep declines and local extinctions emphasizing ongoing threats. Recovery in Thailand’s Western Forest Complex and progress in Malaysia’s Central Forest landscape show that targeted efforts can halt declines and facilitate range-wide recovery.”
“Tigers now occur in only 10 of the 46 countries where they once bred,” adds Thomas Gray, assessment co-author and Tiger Recovery Lead for WWF. “Yet, this decline in range also represents an opportunity for conservationists to collaborate with Tiger Range Country Governments and local communities to drive tiger recovery and expand their range. This landmark assessment helps us plot a course for long-term tiger recovery across Asia.”
Looking ahead, the analysis shows that the species remains heavily dependent on conservation efforts, recognizing that because tiger populations tend to recover very slowly, major changes are unlikely over the next decade. Nonetheless, concerted efforts in places like WEFCOM in Thailand, Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia, Endau Rompin and the greater Taman Negara in Malaysia, the Northeast China Tiger Leopard National Park, and regionally in India, Bhutan, and Nepal can result in remarkable increases in tiger numbers over the next 10 to 20 years.
The growing gain in tiger numbers and expansion of their range represent major conservation successes as tigers further fulfill their ecological role as apex predators. Without ongoing conservation, however, extinction risk would rise dramatically, with the tiger disappearing from up to eight more spatial units.
In the long term, the Recovery Potential of the tiger is assessed as Medium, indicating that intensified conservation could secure survival and enable substantial recovery over the next 100 years. Under an optimistic scenario, as many as 11 spatial units could achieve “Viable” status and ecological functions restored across key landscapes. This would require sustained political will, investment, and local engagement to address threats such as habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal trade.
The Green Status of Species framework builds upon the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species by assessing recovery and conservation impact alongside extinction risk. It aims to inspire greater ambition by showing how species can move not only away from extinction, but toward recovery and ecological functionality.
The tiger’s Green Status results highlight both the fragility and resilience of one of the planet’s most iconic species. While the assessment underscores the scale of the challenges ahead, it also confirms that conservation works—and that recovery is possible if protection, connectivity, and community engagement are strengthened across Asia’s remaining tiger landscapes.
Said Elliot Carlton, with the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group, “In a comprehensive assessment of the recovery status of the tiger, the first-ever IUCN Green Status of Species assessment finds it to be Critically Depleted. Despite the critical status, the assessment shows that conservation has successfully prevented further declines and remains vital in enabling future survival and recovery.”
Added Molly Grace, Lecturer of the University of Oxford and Co-Chair, IUCN Green Status of Species Working Group, “This first Green Status assessment for the tiger provides a formal record of conservation success in preventing even greater past declines. Tigers have been listed as Endangered for decades, but the Green Status assessment shows that this isn’t the whole story; conservation efforts have worked, and there is realistic hope for recovery of tigers in the future.”
The assessment authors include Luke Hunter (WCS), Abishek Harihar (Panthera), Dale Miquelle (WCS), Tom Gray (WWF), John Goodrich (Panthera), Elizabeth Bennett (WCS), Tanya Rosen (Conservation X-Labs), Matt Linkie (WCS), Elliot Carlton (IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group), and Molly Grace (University of Oxford / IUCN Green Status of Species Working Group).
About the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Cat Specialist Group
The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Cat Specialist Group (CSG) is a global network of experts dedicated to the conservation of wild cats and their habitats. As part of the SSC, the CSG coordinates research, monitoring, and conservation strategies for all 40 species of wild cats worldwide, ranging from tigers and lions to lesser-known species like the fishing cat. The group supports the IUCN Red List and Green Status of Species assessments and promotes practical conservation actions to safeguard these iconic animals. Learn more at http://www.catsg.org/.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit: www.panda.org/tigers.
About Panthera
Founded in 2006, Panthera is devoted to preserving wild cats and their critical role in the
world’s ecosystems. Panthera’s team of leading biologists, law enforcement experts and wild cat advocates develop innovative strategies based on the best available science to protect cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards, tigers and the 33 small cat species and their vast landscapes. In 39 countries around the world, Panthera works with a wide variety of stakeholders to reduce or eliminate the most pressing threats to wild cats—securing their future, and ours. Visit Panthera.org.
About the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS combines the power of its zoos and an aquarium in New York City and a Global Conservation Program in more than 50 countries to achieve its mission to save wildlife and wild places. WCS runs the world’s largest conservation field program, protecting more than 50 percent of Earth’s known biodiversity; in partnership with governments, Indigenous People, Local Communities, and the private sector. Its four zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium ) welcome more than 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring generations to care for nature. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org. Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: +1 (347) 840-1242. Listen to the WCS Wild Audio podcast HERE.
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