From a population of perhaps 100,000 in the early 1900s, wild tiger numbers hit an all-time low of about 3,200 in 2010, the last Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac. In that year, all 13 governments of tiger range countries committed to doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. Some countries like Nepal have achieved this goal, but the overall progress is uneven and the work is not over. In the next Global Tiger Recovery Programme 2022-2034, we need robust and measurable goals, focusing on living with tigers and expanding tiger range, to ensure the future of this iconic animal.

“TX2” stands for “tigers times two” – a symbol of the goal to double the number of wild tigers.