One of the most severe threats facing wild tigers is poaching, fueled by the illegal trade in their parts and products. This trade is being further stimulated by captive tiger breeding operations in range countries (countries with wild tigers) as well as in non-range countries.

Tigers are kept and bred in often appalling conditions on tiger farms, in zoos, and in other facilities across Asia in order to supply the tiger trade. Their skins are taxidermied and turned into rugs for luxury home décor, and their skeletons are soaked in vats of wine to make tiger bone “health tonic.” Sizeable markets for tiger parts and products are found in China, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The creation of a captive industry to supply a market for derived products has failed to alleviate poaching pressure on their wild relatives. On the contrary, this has only further encouraged the development of the existing market – one which often perceives the wild counterpart as more powerful, virile, or otherwise more desirable. Additionally, the tiger farming industry is directly leading to an increased poaching pressure since, put simply, wild tigers are cheaper. (Captive-bred tigers are costly to rear, their skins are prepared more professionally, and their products are therefore priced higher).

• Learn more about the tiger trade »
• Learn more about wildlife trade »

The forests in which tigers live are threatened by human encroachment, mines, dams, palm oil plantations, roads, and railways. This shrinks former tiger havens – many of them now devoid of wild prey.

Throughout the world, thousands of tigers and other big cats are kept in appalling conditions in zoos, circuses, tiger farms, and as pets. In zoos, tigers repeatedly pace, frustrated because their hunting and territorial instincts are denied. In circuses, they are forced to perform for audiences, often through brutal training methods. And, an estimated 5,000 tigers are thought to be held by private individuals as “pets”; however, by their very nature, tigers are wild and potentially dangerous, and do not adjust well to a captive environment.

In recent years, the tiger farm industry has developed to such a point that the number of captive tigers in these facilities now outnumbers that of their wild counterparts. While the world has fewer than 4,000 wild tigers, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos alone have an estimated 7,000-8,000 captive tigers. The same is true of the U.S.; it is thought that more captive tigers live in American basements, backyards, zoos, and manageries than live in the wild across the globe. Though a patchwork of laws regulating tiger ownership makes it impossible to know exactly how many tigers live in captivity in the U.S., experts estimate that the number is between 5,000 and 10,000.

With the help of supporters, Born Free rescues tigers and other big cats from lives of misery. We raise awareness of their conditions and provide lifetime care in spacious natural habitat sanctuaries:

• The Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (STLP) brings together a network of dedicated Indian conservationists working in seven tiger reserves in Central India, a key tiger landscape, to support forest departments, implement grassroots community conservation activities, and prevent conflict between people and tigers.
• Since 2002, Born Free has managed Bannerghatta Tiger Sanctuary: a sanctuary for rescued tigers in Bannerghatta National Park in southern India.
• Born Free supports Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre in Cambodia, which cares for and rehabilitates animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We specifically support a tiger named Jasper who was rescued from poachers who stole him as a newborn cub.

We actively work to keep tigers out of captivity:

• Born Free advocates for laws to prevent the ownership of big cats. For instance, the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1818) would prohibit ownership of big cats by private individuals and unqualified exhibitors. Tell your U.S. representative to cosponsor this legislation today!
• Learn more about what Born Free USA has done to prevent the use of tigers in circuses »
• Learn more about animals in entertainment »

With humans encroaching on tiger habitat and altering the natural environment, tiger prey species are reduced. Humans also compete with tigers for this prey.

Tigers are in increasing conflict with people living alongside them who encroach on their habitat. Tigers kill livestock, which results in humans persecuting the tigers in retaliation.