Tigers Roar Back

One night in 2007, a tiger wandered alone through the forest in Cambodia, a country in Southeast Asia. In the darkness, a hidden camera detected its movements. With a bright flash and a click, the camera snapped the tiger’s picture.

That was the last time a wild tiger was seen in Cambodia. The country was once home to hundreds of tigers. But in 2013, scientists declared the population in that country extinct. 

Now scientists have a plan to bring these big cats back. 

One night in 2007, a tiger wandered alone through the forest in Cambodia. Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia. A hidden camera picked up the tiger’s movements. There was a bright flash and a click. Snap! The camera took the tiger’s picture.

That was the last time a wild tiger was seen in Cambodia. The country was once home to hundreds of tigers. But in 2013, scientists found that they were all gone. 

Now scientists have a plan to bring these big cats back. 

A century ago, about 100,000 tigers roamed Asia. Their  range spanned from Turkey to the eastern coast of Russia. “The tiger was the king of the jungle,” says Tony Lynam. He’s a scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Since then, the number of wild tigers has dropped. Today, there are only between 3,000 and 4,000 left in Asia. Their range is just a fraction of what it once was.

Lynam says that humans are to blame for their disappearance. People illegally hunt, or poach, tigers. They also cut down forests to build farms and homes. This destroys the habitat that tigers—and their prey—need to survive.

The biggest threat to tigers is a shortage of prey, such as deer and wild boars. “People are hunting all the animals that tigers eat,” says Lynam. 

A century ago, about 100,000 tigers roamed Asia. Their range spanned from Turkey to the eastern coast of Russia. “The tiger was the king of the jungle,” says Tony Lynam. He’s a scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Since then, the number of wild tigers has dropped. Today, there are only between 3,000 and 4,000 left in Asia. Their range is tiny compared to what it once was.

Lynam says that humans are to blame for their disappearance. People illegally hunt, or poach, tigers. They also cut down forests to build farms and homes. This destroys the wild places that tigers and their prey need to survive.

The biggest threat to tigers is a shortage of prey, such as deer and wild boars. “People are hunting the animals that tigers eat,” says Lynam. 

In 2010, scientists worried that tigers were close to going extinct. So representatives from 13 countries in tigers’ present-day range held a meeting. They decided to work together to not only prevent tigers from dying out but actually increase their numbers. The goal: Double the number of wild tigers by 2022.

“It’s going to take a lot of effort—if it’s even possible,” says John Goodrich. He’s a tiger biologist at Panthera, a big-cat conservation organization. Government officials and scientists will have to work hard to protect what’s left of the tiger’s habitat and protect the big cats from poachers.

There are already signs of success. In some protected areas in India, Nepal, and Thailand, tiger numbers are increasing. In the Western Ghats, a mountain range in India, there are now four times as many tigers as there were 30 years ago!

“This is good news,” Goodrich says. “It tells us that our recipe for conservation works.”

In 2010, scientists worried that tigers were close to going extinct. So officials from the 13 countries in tigers’ current range held a meeting. They decided to work together to prevent tigers from dying out. They also want to increase tigers’ numbers. The goal: Double the number of wild tigers by 2022.

“It’s going to take a lot of effort. If it’s even possible,” says John Goodrich. He’s a tiger biologist at Panthera. That’s a big-cat conservation organization. Government officials and scientists will have to work hard to protect what’s left of the tiger’s habitat. They’ll also need to protect the big cats from poachers.

There are already signs of success. In some protected areas, tiger numbers are increasing. In one mountain range in India, there are now four times as many tigers as there were 30 years ago!

“This is good news,” Goodrich says. “It tells us that our recipe for conservation works.”

In Cambodia, native tigers have already disappeared. But conservationists there aren’t ready to give up. They hope to raise a new population by bringing in tigers from another country, such as India or Thailand.

The plan is to start with eight tigers—six females and two males. “We call these the founders,” says Ramesh Krishnamurthy. He’s a scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India. The founders must be young tigers that haven’t staked out a territory yet, he says. “Otherwise, they will try to go back home.”

Scientists estimate that this small group could grow to a population of 180 tigers by 2022. Of course, it won’t be easy. “There’s a lot of work ahead,” says Krishnamurthy. “But I’m convinced that with good science and good land protection, we won’t fail.”

In Cambodia, native tigers have already disappeared. But conservationists there aren’t ready to give up. They hope to raise a new population by bringing in tigers from another country.

The plan is to start with eight tigers. There will be six females and two males. “We call these the founders,” says Ramesh Krishnamurthy. He’s a scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India. The founders must be young tigers that haven’t staked out a territory yet, he says. “Otherwise, they will try to go back home.”

Scientists think that this small group could grow to a population of 180 tigers by 2022. Of course, it won’t be easy. “There’s a lot of work ahead,” says Krishnamurthy. “But with good science and good land protection, we won’t fail.”

Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary can support up to 32 wild tigers. Suppose this population starts with just 4 tigers. Determine the unknown number that makes the following equation true. 

4 × __ = 32

Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary can support up to 32 wild tigers. Suppose this population starts with just 4 tigers. Determine the unknown number that makes the following equation true. 

4 × __ = 32

How many times bigger is the  maximum population than the starting population?

How many times bigger is the  maximum population than the starting population?

There are more prey animals in the Mondulkiri Protected Forest than in the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary. One consequence of this is that Mondulkiri can support more tigers. To compare these locations, which numbers from the chart should you use?

There are more prey animals in the Mondulkiri Protected Forest than in the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary. One consequence of this is that Mondulkiri can support more tigers. To compare these locations, which numbers from the chart should you use?

What is the unknown value that makes the following equation true?

70 ÷ __ = 5

What is the unknown value that makes the following equation true?

70 ÷ __ = 5

How many times greater is the number of tigers that can live in the Mondulkiri Protected Forest than in the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary?

How many times greater is the number of tigers that can live in the Mondulkiri Protected Forest than in the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary?

The Seima Protected Forest can support 4 times as many tigers as the O’Yadao Protected Forest. What other two numbers do you need to represent this statement as an equation?

The Seima Protected Forest can support 4 times as many tigers as the O’Yadao Protected Forest. What other two numbers do you need to represent this statement as an equation?

Write the equation.

Write the equation.

Scientists estimate that each female tiger in Cambodia will need a territory of 70 square kilometers. A male tiger will need 3 times as much territory. Write this as an equation with an unknown.

Scientists estimate that each female tiger in Cambodia will need a territory of 70 square kilometers. A male tiger will need 3 times as much territory. Write this as an equation with an unknown.

Solve for the unknown. 

Solve for the unknown. 

The Mondulkiri Protected Forest can support more than 2 times as many tigers as the O’Yadao Protected Forest and the Yok Don National Park combined. Using numbers from the chart, rewrite this statement as an equation with an inequality symbol.

The Mondulkiri Protected Forest can support more than 2 times as many tigers as the O’Yadao Protected Forest and the Yok Don National Park combined. Using numbers from the chart, rewrite this statement as an equation with an inequality symbol.

Say the average adult female tiger gives birth to 4 cubs per litter. She has a litter every 3 years. On a separate sheet of paper, write a multistep word problem that integrates this information with a piece of information from the chart. 

Say the average adult female tiger gives birth to 4 cubs per litter. She has a litter every 3 years. On a separate sheet of paper, write a multistep word problem that integrates this information with a piece of information from the chart.