New tiger sightings in Thailand raise conservation hopes

By Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

A tiger is pictured from a camera trap from the western forest of Thailand, in this undated handout photo obtained by Reuters in July 28, 2020. DNP-Panthera-ZSL-USFWS-AsECF-RCU Handout via REUTERS

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Camera traps in a forest in western Thailand have captured footage of tigers in an area for the first time in four years, a conservationist said, raising hopes over efforts to preserve the species in the Southeast Asian country.

 

The video and photographs show three male tigers roaming at night, including at one point peering directly into one of the camera traps.

 

"We are excited about this discovery," Kritsana Kaewplang, country director for conservation group Panthera in Thailand, said of the footage which was released on Global Tiger Day.

 

There are estimated to about 160 Indochinese tigers left in the wild in Thailand. They are also found in Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and southwestern China. The total population may only be around 350, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

 

Globally there are estimated to be only about 3,900 tigers left in the wild, including the larger Bengal and Siberian tigers.

 

Wildlife conservationist groups unveiled rare videos and photos of three new male Indochinese tigers taken in Thailand's western forest region, rekindling hopes of recovery for the endangered species just ahead of Wednesday's (July 29) Global Tiger Day.

 

Kritsana, who has been working with Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and other organisations, said the sightings mean Thailand is on the right track trying to preserve tigers and their prey.

 

"The next important step for us is that we have to try and make the connecting routes of each forest area accommodating for them, in order for the tigers to roam safely," said Kritsana.

 

A database of Thailand's tiger population showed two of the tigers had travelled from the northern part of the forest to the south, while the third had not been documented before, she said.

 

Thailand is a well-known trafficking hub of illicit wildlife products and tigers continue to face the threat of poaching.

 

(Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-29

 

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28 minutes ago, webfact said:

database of Thailand's tiger population showed two of the tigers had travelled from the northern part of the forest to the south,

but not in a minivan that's for sure or the population might have been further depleted .. 

And queue some  hi-so Thai business owner wannabe hunter

Still no sighting of a Panther then other than on a fat blokes BBQ ????

That tiger penis is going to make some Chinese very happy. 

wildlife is awesome, and cats doubly so, but that is one creature i dont want to sight

without safety

This is good news (in my opinion) and I do hope they are protected from poachers supplying the Chinese "medicine" market. Cambodia is mentioned in the article and this is what is happening (quote WWF):-

 

WWF is supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia's tiger reintroduction plans to bring tigers to the Eastern Plains Landscape. As one of the thirteen tiger range countries, Cambodia plays an important role in achieving Tx2 - the global goal to double wild tiger numbers by the year 2022.

 

Edited July 29, 20205 yr by Burma Bill
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