Thailand’s Tiger Population Thrives in WEFCOM with Effective Conservation Efforts

As Global Tiger Day approaches, Thailand’s tiger population has shown a remarkable recovery. In the Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), a vast area of 18,000 square kilometers that includes 11 national parks and six wildlife sanctuaries, the number of tigers has more than tripled from 41 in 2007 to 143 in 2023.

This positive development was highlighted in a recent study led by Thailand’s Department of National Parks (DNP) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation.

The study not only notes the resurgence of tigers but also highlights a significant increase in the populations of threatened ungulate species, such as deer and wild cattle, in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. These species are crucial prey for tigers, indicating a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

The increase in wildlife numbers reflects more effective management practices and conservation efforts over the past decade, according to Pornkamol Jornburom, director of WCS Thailand.

Jornburom, who has been involved in conservation projects in WEFCOM since 2005, attributes the success to improved anti-poaching patrols and systematic data collection. Initially, patrols were infrequent and uncoordinated, but now they use GPS technology and standardized reporting to monitor wildlife and illegal activities effectively.

These efforts have made WEFCOM a model for conservation, benefiting not only tigers but also other endangered species like Asian elephants, hornbills, and banteng.

The new research also recorded 67 tiger cubs through camera traps between 2013 and 2023, indicating a breeding and growing tiger population. WEFCOM’s extensive forest corridors, connecting various national parks, provide a critical habitat for tigers, who require large territories to thrive. This contrasts with many conservation efforts in the region that focus on smaller, isolated areas.

Despite Thailand’s success, the overall regional outlook for tigers remains grim. Tigers have gone extinct in several Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Java, and Bali, and have disappeared from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in recent years.

Small, isolated populations persist in Myanmar, Indonesian Sumatra, and peninsular Malaysia, but they face significant threats from hunting and poaching, requiring constant conservation efforts to prevent further decline.

Stuart Chapman of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative emphasizes that tigers are a “conservation-dependent species” and stresses the importance of sustained interventions to protect them. He praises the WEFCOM study as a historic achievement, demonstrating that effective habitat management and prey population maintenance can yield extraordinary results.

Thailand’s estimated 179 to 223 adult tigers signify a promising trend, and with continued efforts, WEFCOM could potentially support up to 2,000 tigers, serving as an inspiring model for conservation in other regions.