There are now as many as 189 wild tigers in Thailand’s forests, a 100% increase since 2014, according to a census conducted using camera traps, said Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, on International Tiger Day today (Saturday).

Most of the tigers are to be found in Kaeng Krachan, Dong Phyayen-Khao Yai, Hala Bala-Bang Lang and western forests, he said, adding that the department launched the second national action plan to conserve the big cats, which runs from last year until 2034, with the aim of further increasing the tiger population and that of their prey.

As tigers are at the top of the predatory food chain, he said that the increased number of wild tigers is an indication of the health of the forests.

Padet Laithong, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, meanwhile, said that protection of the ecological system in the habitats of the big cats, against encroachment and other human threats, and the introduction of prey into the habitats are important for the survival and reproduction of tigers.

According to the “Now or Forever” book about tigers, each adult needs between 40 and 50 deer, or about 150kg each, to feed on each year to survive and the tigers can get hurt while hunting.

The success of the census was attributable to the installation of camera traps in 1,200 locations in 28 conserved areas in six forest complexes, but tigers were only detected in four.

Padet said that tigers used to be found in Khao Yai National Park, but not anymore and park officials have been trying to lure them back from the neighbouring Tap Lan forest. Recently, however, traces of a tiger had been found near the corridor connecting Tap Lan and Khao Yai National Park, he said.

On International Tiger Day today, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and other conservation agencies are holding activities, with the general concept of “Move Forward to Sustainable Tiger Conservation”, to raise awareness of tiger conservation.

Meanwhile, the Doi Chiang Dao wildlife research station has reported that one of its camera traps captured images of a female leopard on July 6^th.