WWF Want the Year of the Tiger to End With a Roar

WWF charity officials are urging world leaders to keep their promise to help preserve the world’s remaining tiger population before it is too late. With the Chinese Year of the Tiger ending today, now is the perfect time for the historic Global Tiger Recovery Programme (GTRP) to lead us into a brave new world of conservation. The International Tiger Forum, held in November in St. Petersburg, Russia, was the first ever international summit to help wild tigers, with goals now set to double their number in the wild by 2022.

Head of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative, Mike Baltzer, said –

The recovery programme is a big boost for tigers, but it is only the beginning. We must now join the tiger countries and our partners worldwide to ensure the momentum from the Forum and this past year’s tiger conservation achievements continues. Tigers have reached a critical juncture and their recovery must not lose steam.

With tiger numbers down to as little as 3,200 in the wild, now is the time for people to sit up and take notice of their possible extinction. Can you imagine a world without the famous tiger? It would be a very sad day indeed, and one that can be stopped if world leaders make a concerted effort. If you would like to help their cause, why not sponsor a tiger with the WWF. It’s really easy to do, and you’re much needed donations can help provide the funds to assist WWF officials to save this beautiful creature from the precipice of disaster.

Head of Species at WWF-UK, Diane Walkington, said –

While we have seen major decisions made that will go a long way in supporting the recovery of wild tiger populations, we now need to take the next step and turn Year of the Tiger commitments into success. 2011 must be the year of action