The world is dealing with an unprecedented spike in illegal wildlife trade—threatening the survival of many endangered species, including tigers. This trade, poaching and habitat loss have reduced the global population of wild tigers from over 100,000 about a century ago, to less than 4,000 today.
In addition to the growing threat to biodiversity, the wildlife trade has played a role in the emergence of zoonotic diseases—those spread from animals to humans.
With support from our donors, WWF have been working to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022. We are seeing results, with wild tiger numbers starting to tick upward, but much more work is needed to protect this species if we are to secure its future in the wild.
Captive wildlife farms have experienced unprecedented growth in recent decades.
Asia’s tiger ‘farms’ house at least 8,000 tigers, while in the United States, there are an estimated 5,000 captive tigers.
These farms concentrate people and animals, which increases exposure to potential zoonotic diseases.
In addition, these animals can be easily exploited by wildlife criminals pushing tigers and tiger parts into the illegal wildlife trade—sustaining a market that also drives the poaching of tigers in the wild. Learn more.
For the health and well-being of people, and all species, we must restore the balance, which includes putting an end to the illegal wildlife trade.
We are thankful to the following agencies for their pro-bono work to support this campaign: ColensoBBDO for creative, Hearts & Science for coordinating media, and QMS, JCDecaux and GoMedia for ad placements.
WWF’s global tiger programme is driving an ambitious and visionary species conservation goal set by the governments of the 13 tiger range countries: to double the number of wild tigers by 2022.
Learn more about our tigers programme
We are part of nature.
It provides the essentials we all rely on for our survival and well-being—from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the foods we eat. A healthy planet keeps us healthy.
As kaitiaki—guardians for the sky, the sea, and the land—we all have a duty to look after nature for future generations. We are all stewards of our natural taonga.
Our world is out of balance. But it doesn’t have to be. We have an incredible opportunity to build a truly resilient path forward to restore the balance between people and nature. And we must act now.
This critical work is not possible without the help of people like you. Please donate to WWF-New Zealand today.
ADD YOUR VOICE AND HELP US RESTORE THE BALANCE
World leaders will soon be making decisions on climate, biodiversity, and oceans—setting the direction for much of our planet’s future. They need to hear from you to take urgent action to protect and restore nature, before it’s too late.
To: Leaders of all NZ political parties
Our natural world is in crisis.
At the current rate of nature loss, we stand to face the extinction of an estimated one million species within decades—threatening the future of wildlife and humanity alike.
Here in New Zealand, human activities have pushed many of our native plants and animals towards extinction and devastated some of our most treasured ecosystems on which we depend—impacting our economies, livelihoods, and health. Continuing with business as usual is not an option.
We can rebuild--but let us rebuild smarter. As we worked together to bend the curve on the health crisis, we can once again unite to bend the curve towards a future in which people live in harmony with nature.
This critical work is not possible without the help of people like you. Please donate to WWF-New Zealand and help us fight for a future where people live in harmony with nature.
Donate today