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International Tiger Day 2025 will be celebrated on July 29 to raise awareness about tiger conservation. Initiated in 2010, it highlights the importance of saving tigers, their role in ecology, and efforts like Project Tiger and NTCA to increase their population in India and globally.
PWOnlyIAS
July 21, 2025
International Tiger Day is celebrated on July 29 every year. This day is dedicated to identifying and promoting global efforts taken to protect the tiger. The history of Global Tiger Day dates back to 2010. During a summit held in St. Petersburg, the governments from tiger range countries came together and decided to double the wild tiger population by 2022. Tiger range countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam, have worked with a shared goal of reversing the alarming decline in their number of tigers.
International Tiger Day is celebrated to highlight the role of tigers in maintaining ecological balance. Their survival is intertwined with the health of the entire ecosystems, especially in regions across Asia. A drop in the number of wild tigers often signals deeper environmental threats. This includes shrinking biodiversity and weak natural systems. International Tiger Day brings peoples’ attention to these risks. Additionally, it identifies the ongoing conservation efforts aimed at ensuring a future where tigers continue to thrive globally.
List Of International National Days 2025 Month-Wise List
International Tiger Day 2025 will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 29th. This day serves as a global reminder of the urgent need to protect one of the most iconic and endangered species. This annual event brings together wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists, governments, and communities to raise awareness about the challenges faced by wild tigers.
International Tiger Day is a global measure taken by tiger range countries to conserve and increase the number of wild tigers. It is not just about admiration for these animals but a call to action to protect them and their habitats.
Tiger populations continue to decline due to poaching, habitat loss, and climate change. This sharp decline in tiger populations not only increases their extinction chances but also disrupts the ecological balance. In response to this crisis, July 29 has been recognised globally as a day to highlight the urgent need for tiger conservation.
International Tiger Day Theme 2025 not yet announced yet officially, However, Global Tiger Forum and other relevant organisations will decide the International Tiger Day theme. Last year’s tiger day theme was “Call for Action”. The theme serves as a powerful message that highlights the urgency for global tiger conservation efforts. Every year, the chosen theme reflects current challenges, goals, and collective responsibility for protecting this endangered species.
Tigers once roamed freely across the territories in Asia. However, today they are confined to limited sections of the forest. According to the Global Tiger Forum, today around 5,574 wild tigers are present across different countries. Although some nations, such as Nepal, Russia, and India, have made remarkable improvements in tiger conservation, their populations remain critically low in many regions. The imbalance in numbers across various tiger range countries not only reflects the difference in their conservation measures but also the need for unified global action.
Presented below are the country-wise wild tiger populations as of the most recent data:
| Tiger Population in World | ||
| Sl. No. | Country | Estimated Wild Tiger Population |
| 1 | India | 3682 |
| 2 | Russia | 750 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 400 |
| 4 | Nepal | 355 |
| 5 | Thailand | 189 |
| 6 | Bhutan | 151 |
| 7 | Malaysia | 150 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 146 |
| 9 | Myanmar | 22 |
| 10 | China | 20 |
| 11 | Vietnam | 5 |
| 12 | Laos | 2 |
Note: Cambodia has reported no sightings of wild tigers since 2007. However, conservationists are working on initiatives to reintroduce the species into its natural habitat.
According to the reports tiger population in India has increased as per the All India Tiger Estimation done in 2022, with an estimated number of 3682 (range 3167-3925) as compared to the 2018 estimation of 2967 (range 2603-3346) and 2014 estimation of 2226 (range 1945-2491). This figure makes India a habitat for over 70% of the global tiger population. When analysed using advanced statistical models across both camera-surveyed and non-camera-trapped regions, the tiger population in India is expected to go up to 3,925. The number of tigers today shows a growth rate of nearly 6.1%.
The increase in the number of tigers is the result of continued strategic conservation efforts led by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and State Governments. The focused approach to habitat preservation, anti-poaching enforcement, and scientific monitoring has made India a global leader in tiger conservation.
Nearly 100 years ago, the population of wild tigers was estimated at around 100,000 across Asia. However, by the early 2000s, that population was reduced by roughly 95% due to extensive poaching and widespread loss of natural habitat. Today, wild tigers are found in only 13 countries. These include India, Bangladesh, China, Russia, Bhutan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, and, in small numbers, in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.
To combat the declining population of Tigers, many countries have taken strategic measures to conserve this endangered species. To maintain the conservation of tigers, governments and organisations have been working on protecting their natural habitat, combating illegal trade of tigers, promoting awareness among communities, etc.
The Global Tiger Forum, also known as GTF, was started in 1993. It is the only intergovernmental alliance dedicated exclusively to the conservation of wild tigers. GTF serves as a collaborative platform that unites tiger range countries, international conservation bodies, and notable stakeholders with the common goal of ensuring the long-term survival of tigers in the wild. GTS works to address critical challenges of the tiger population through coordinated actions, policy formation, and knowledge sharing.
Launched in 2014, the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme or ITHCP is a funding scheme designed to support and advance the goals of the Global Tiger Recovery Programme. The major objective of ITHCP is to strengthen conservation measures across important tiger landscapes and secure their future.
Today, wild tiger populations have drastically reduced to just 3,200, which occupy a mere 7% of their original territory. This decline is largely the result of poaching, habitat fragmentation, and escalating human-wildlife conflict.
ITHCP is financed by the German Cooperation through the KfW Development Bank and is planned to continue through 2027. The initiative operates through a phased structure. Thus, it channels funds into high-impact projects across important tiger range countries such as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
Currently, Phases 2, 3, and 4 are being implemented globally. While earlier phases were focused solely on tiger conservation, Phase 4 has broadened its scope to include other large cat species such as leopards and clouded leopards. This measure of ITHCP reflects a holistic approach to preserving Asia’s rich biodiversity.
India stands as a global leader in protecting wild tigers. It has implemented multiple focused conservation measures that have provided impressive results. In 2023, the estimated tiger population in India was approximately 3,682. This remarkable achievement reflects India’s sustained commitment to preserving its national animal and maintaining the ecological balance.
Here are the major steps of tiger conservation in India:
NTCA was established under the amended Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 in 2006. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) operates as a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Its primary objective is to reinforce and oversee tiger conservation efforts across India. The NTCA plays a vital role in policy formulation, monitoring conservation strategies, and ensuring the effective implementation of measures to protect tigers and their habitats.
Project Tiger was launched in April 1973. It stands as one of India’s most impactful tiger conservation initiatives. Project Tiger is operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Its core mission is to sustain a healthy and sustainable tiger population. The project also aims to safeguard biologically rich landscapes as part of the nation’s natural heritage for future generations.
Over the last five decades, Project Tiger has grown from a modest beginning, which covered just nine reserves across 18,278 sq km, to a vast network of 57 tiger reserves that now span 82,836 sq km. This area accounts for more than 2.3% of India’s total land area.
India has an expansive network of 58 tiger reserves spread across various regions. These reserves effectively strengthen India’s efforts to protect its national animal and preserve biodiversity-rich habitats. To optimise conservation results, tiger habitats across the country have been grouped into five major landscapes based on their ecological features and connectivity. This allows targeted management strategies suitable for each region.
Below is the detailed list of all 58 tiger reserves in India, including their location, year of establishment, and area covered:
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