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Shutterstock / WWF-InternationalFrom the boreal forests in the Amur HeilongEco Region where temperatures can reach-40 C to the tropical forests of the DawnaTenasserim Landscape, tigers inhabit adiverse range of landscapes.WWF’s tiger conservation is carried out across 14 keylandscapes and within these landscapes are 50 tigerHeartlands which have been identified as having thehighest potential for tiger recovery. WWF is working tosecure these critical habitats and to also restore sites inHistoric Tiger RangeCurrent Tiger RangeWWF Tiger LandscapeWHEREWE WORKReintroduction SiteWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020Kazakhstan and Cambodia so that tigers can be returnedto part of their historic range.As well as harbouring the entire global wild tigerpopulation, the majority of the world’s people live inAsia. Tiger landscapes spread across forests, grasslands,shrubland and mangrove swamps and provide invaluableecosystem services to billions of people. This highpopulation pressure presents one of the greatest threatsto tigers, but with it a unique opportunity to demonstratethat co-existence with large carnivores is possible.Freedom to moveMore than half of WWF supported tiger landscapesstraddle international borders, and facilitatingcooperation between tiger range countries is a crucialcomponent of the global goal to double wild tigers.7

When the world decided to doublewild tigers in 2010, a major part ofWWF’s commitment was to set upthe Tigers Alive Initiative to workwith Tiger Range Countries to driveforward the TX2 goal.HOW WEWORKWWF has three goals to help secure a future for tigers.Each requires a bold vision, exceptional leadership,and commitment from governments, communities, andconservation investors.BETTER TOGETHERAvoiding extinction: protecting,connecting and restoring critical tigerlandscapes, as well as stopping the tradeand reducing demand for tiger products.Living with tigers: managing conflictswith tigers, and strengthening public,private and community support for tigerconservation.Bringing back the roar: planning forreintroductions and expanding the tiger’srange.In each of our 14 priority landscapes WWF partners withgovernments, local communities and grassroots organisationsto benefit tigers, people and ecosystems. We work withtechnical partners to deliver critical protection tools such asSpatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) to informand help improve anti-poaching patrols.Likewise, the implementation of tiger specific protected areamanagement standards (CA TS), as well as our approachto reducing poaching through the Zero Poaching Toolkitand efforts to reducing trade would not have been possiblewithout collaboration with our partners.AN INNOVATIVE APPROACHDespite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemicin the last year tiger conservation has continued. WWFcontinues to facilitate and support innovative interventionsacross tiger range countries, such as patrol prediction andinfrastructure forecasting using artificial intelligence, eDNAtesting for biodiversity monitoring, and a new SMARTfunctionality that can help in understanding the poachingnetwork in an area.Throughout this report you’ll read more about our innovativeapproaches to securing a future for tigers and how we’veadapted to creating positive impact amid the COVID-19pandemic. Emmanuel Rondeau / WWF-USWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020Venturing out: Between 17 and 24 monthsof age, tiger cubs leave their mother’s side insearch of their own territory.9

ADAPTINGTO CRISISCopyright WorrapanCreditPhumanee Copyright/ WWF-Thailandowner / WWF-WWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020Global Tiger Day 2020, Thailand11

ADAPTING TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMICFamilies and communities suffering, daily lifedisrupted, and businesses failing. Many staff andWWF partners have not escaped these impacts, andvulnerable communities have felt them even moreacutely.This has also presented a number of uniquechallenges to tiger conservation.Beyond the day-to-day challenges common to mostorganisations, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us toevolve and constantly adapt. Priorities and fundingacross NGOs, governments and local partners shiftedin response to the immediate impacts of the pandemicand travel restrictions prevented staff from meetingfor training or conducting field work, and reducedinteraction with local communities.Restriction on movement has not always impactedprotected areas in predictable ways. In Nepal, theserestrictions brought increased illegal entries intoprotected areas, while in other tiger range countriessuch as China, poaching pressures sharply decreased.Ecotourism has been one sector severely impactedby the enforcement of lockdowns across theglobe, especially impacting tiger landscapes andcommunities in Nepal, Bhutan and India. Thedecline in tourism revenues poses a direct threat tothe livelihoods of community rangers, park revenueand income streams for local communities. Nepal’stourism industry for instance generates 95% of parkrevenue, 30-50% of which is channeled back into thedevelopment of local buffer zone communities by law.COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITIES ISMORE CRITICAL THAN EVER.WWF provided emergency relief to communitiesin some tiger landscapes with food parcels andhygiene equipment and continues to support thesecommunities and local organisations to help themrecover and build resilience to future threats. WWFIndia contributed over US 150,000 in immediatemeasures to support approximately 15,000households across their tiger landscapes.WWF will work with partners to increase theresilience of community-led conservation, includingdiversifying income opportunities, developing moreresilient tourism, strengthening legal frameworks, andworking with communities to co-create sustainablelivelihood development solutions. Karine Aigner / WWF-USWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020Bika Ram Gurau, and Rupani Devi Gurau sit on theporch of the family home in the Amaltari / BagkurVillage of Nepal. The homestay pictured in thebackground is owned by their son.13

CALLING FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT INRANGERS AND PROTECTED AREASSUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES INMYANMAR’S DAWNA TENASSERIM LANDSCAPEA survey of people charged with managing 40 protected areasin tiger range countries, released in June 2020, revealed thathalf of respondents claimed funding has been reduced sincethe global pandemic began. The survey, led by WWF’s TigersAlive Initiative in collaboration with Ranger Federationof Asia and CA TS, also showed that the ability of rangersto effectively work has been compromised by additionalresponsibilities, salary cuts and disruption of essentialsupplies and equipment.WWF-Myanmar provided support to the Dawei Civil SocietyOrganisation's COVID-19 Committee which was set tomitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the Dawna TenasserimLandscape. WWF volunteers and community educatorsassisted with raising awareness of COVID-19, and provideddirect funding of around US 18,000 to support publichealth initiatives. WWF-Myanmar also provided fundingto members of the Conservation Alliance of Tanawthariproviding personal protective equipment, and supportingcommunity initiatives to monitor those coming in and out oftheir region.CALLING ATTENTION TO RISING PRESSURES ONNEPAL’S TIGER HABITATS Debmalya Roy Chowdhury / WWF-India Worrapan Phumanee / WWF-ThailandLocal communities in theSundarbans receiving supportduring COVD-19 pandemicSmart Patrol activities inThailand during COVID-19Human entries into protected parks increased significantlysince Nepal’s lockdown, according to a preliminary reviewof data from 11 protected areas in Nepal conducted by theDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation andWWF-Nepal. The first month of the lockdown (24 March –24 April 2020) saw more cases of illegal extraction of forestresources—such as illicit logging and harvesting—than thepreceding 11 months combined. Human disturbances withinparks across the country more than tripled compared to themonth before the lockdown. The threats are particularlyevident in Nepal’s tiger-bearing habitats.WWF-INDIA LAUNCHED AN EMERGENCY APPEALTO SUPPORT THE SUNDARBANS Hkun Lat / WWF-AustraliaCOVID-19 lockdowns followed by cyclone 'Amphan' haveimpacted livelihoods in the Indian Sundarbans where theecosystem directly supports the local communities throughsubsistence activities such as fishing, and collection of nontimber forest products like honey. To support them duringthis challenging period, WWF-India and the West BengalForest Directorate, through the Joint Forest ManagementCommittees in Sundarbans, reached out to over 1400households to provide hygiene and food supplies.Thai Ranger in Kaeng KrachanNational Park, ThailandHIGHLIGHTING LINK BETWEEN ZOONOTICDISEASES AND SNARING IN SOUTHEAST ASIAThe COVID-19 outbreak has attracted strong attention to agrowing number of examples of wildlife-sourced diseases.In June 2020, WWF released a report showing the scaleof the snaring crisis decimating wildlife in Southeast Asia,including tigers and tiger prey. These rudimentary traps,often made from wire or cable, also increase close contactbetween humans and wildlife and the likelihood of zoonoticdisease spillover - further evidence that investment in tigerconservation is an investment in a healthier planet.WWF INTERNATIONAL 2020WWF-CAMBODIA SUPPORTED COMMUNITIESAFFECTED BY COVID-19 Lor Sokhoeurn / WWF-CambodiaNorthern red muntjac killed bya snare in Phnom Prich WildlifeSanctuary, Cambodia Ratul Saha / WWF-IndiaLocal communities in theSundarbans receiving supportduring COVD-19 pandemicWWF-Cambodia distributed resources such as food andhygiene supplies, worth around US 50,000, to over 3,500families from 14 Community Protected Areas situated inSrepok and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuaries. The effortis part of a long-term commitment to support the localcommunity's wellbeing and assist them in sustainable forestmanagement following the COVID-19 pandemic.15

AVOIDINGEXTINCTION Yashpal Rathore / WWFWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020From perhaps 100,000 at the beginning of the20th century, wild tigers dropped to a low of3,200 in 2010. Reduced to just a few remainingpockets of their historical range, the tiger is nowa conservation-dependent species.Interventions are needed to ensure tigerlandscapes contain the necessary componentsfor them to thrive, but given good qualityhabitat, sufficient prey, and adequateprotection, tigers can increase their numbersrelatively quickly.Tiger walking at night in Kanha National Park, Central India17

CA TS: SETTING THE STANDARDSFOR TIGER CONSERVATIONThe Conservation Assured Tiger Standards(CA TS) is a framework designed to measure andimprove the management of tiger conservationareas. It also provides an opportunity for sites toshowcase their commitment to, and success in,protecting tigers. What started as a small projectis now a global partnership comprising tiger rangegovernments, inter-governmental agencies, NGOsand conservation areas.2020 was a record breaking year with 55 newlyregistered CA TS sites, taking the total ofregistered sites to 125. In addition, 24 ParganasForest Division, which is located in West Bengalin India, was officially approved as a CA TS site in2020. Tiger conservation areas taking part in thesystem are either registered or approved. Whetherthese areas meet the criteria is based on a processwhich starts with registering and carrying out aself-assessment. From there a national audit isconducted followed by an independent review,finally an international executive committee willreview the site and if successful they'll be listedas a CA TS approved site. The CA TS partnershipaims to have 150 tiger sites registered by 2022which will protect 90% of the global tigerpopulation.The innovative ‘Conservation Assured’ frameworkis also being developed to improve and monitorconservation standards for jaguars, lions, andfreshwater dolphins.125 SITES REGISTERED ACROSS 7 COUNTRIES20131 SITE2014201520165 SITES 15 SITES 30 SITESWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020201720182019202050 SITES 65 SITES 70 SITES 125 SITESCA TS APPROVED SITES2015201520172018201920192020CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK, NEPAL SIKOTE-ALIN NATURE RESERVE, RUSSIALANDSDOWNE FOREST DIVISION, INDIARAMNAGAR FOREST DIVISION, INDIAROYAL MANAS NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCK NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN24 PARGANAS FOREST DIVISION, WEST BENGAL, INDIA Suyash Keshari / WWF-InternationalTiger at Bandhavgarh National Park, India19

50 NEW CA TS SITES IN INDIAIndia is home to over 60% of the world’s tiger population andin 2020 the National Tiger Conservation Authority and theGovernment of India gave a major boost to tiger conservationin the country by announcing the adoption of CA TS acrossall 50 of its Tiger Reserves. This is a significant step intiger conservation and proves that the Indian governmentrecognises the importance of the CA TS tool for effectivemanagement of Protected Areas. Over the last three yearsthe Indian government has also allocated additional fundsto key registered and approved CA TS sites outside of TigerReserves.60%OVERof the world’s wildtiger population is inIndiaTIGER SITES PROTECTED ACROSS NEPAL NTCA / UPFD / WWF-IndiaTiger in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, IndiaTiger in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, India Simon Rawles / WWF-UKAs of 2020 all five tiger bearing protected areas in Nepal arenow CA TS registered or approved. Nepal’s efforts in tigerconservation over the last decade have clearly had a positiveimpact as tiger numbers have bounced back in the countrywith their national population nearly doubling since 2010.Bardia National Park alone has increased almost five-fold,from 18 tigers in 2008 to 87 in 2018.CA TS-GREEN LIST PILOT LAUNCHED IN BHUTANIUCN Green List and CA TS are the first global sustainabilitystandards that are specifically designed for Protected andConserved Areas. Linking Green List with CA TS will bringfurther credibility, assurance and transparency to themanagement of the tiger conservation areas. The first sitein discussion is Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan asit is a key tiger conservation area and a good example oftransboundary conservation. Emmanuel Rondeau / WWF-USWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020A watchtower used to spot wildlife inBardia National Park, Nepal Simon Rawles / WWF-UKRanger removing snare in Royal ManasNational Park, Bhutan21

KEEPING HABITAT CONNECTEDWild tigers occupy just 5% of their historicrange and areas occupied by tigers are becomingincreasingly fragmented. When habitatconnectivity is lost tigers become isolated insmaller populations, increasing exposure tohunters, conflict with people, while also impactingtheir genetic diversity.Tiger corridors are recognised as vital to a longterm landscape strategy but are also the mostfragile components, exposed to acute and chronicthreats such as linear infrastructure and humanwildlife conflict. One of the key challenges is todevelop a set of tools that help to understandlandscape connectivity, identify and protectcritical corridors, and monitor their functionality. Narayanan Iyer (Naresh) / WWF-InternationalWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020Pylons running through Kabini Tiger Reserve, India23

AWARDS CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING TIGERCONSERVATIONCHINA: ADDRESSING LACK OF CONNECTIVITYHabitat fragmentation is a major threat to tiger recovery inChina and building corridors for tigers and other wildlife is anurgent conservation need. WWF-China’s “Tigers Need Corridors”campaign on social media reached 200 million people, calling onthe government and conservationists to build corridors for tigersand other wildlife.Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in India, situated within the Terai ArcLandscape, won the inaugural TX2 Award in November2020 for doubling its population of wild tigers since 2010. Asecond Conservation Excellence Award was also presentedto a transboundary partnership between The Royal ManasNational Park in Bhutan and Manas Tiger Reserve in India,known as the Transboundary Manas Conservation Area - twosites that have managed a rare highly successful transboundarypartnership for tiger conservation. The CA TS tool is beingimplemented across all three winning sites. The awards, whichinclude a financial grant to assist ongoing conservation, werepresented by CA TS, IUCN, Global Tiger Forum, UNDP, TheLion’s Share, and WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative.WWF and the Institute of Nature and Ecology of HeilongjiangAcademy of Sciences surveyed tiger habitat and corridors inLesser Khingan Mountain Range during 2020. Survey resultsshowed that there are two to four tigers in the area and identified11 corridors which provide a foundation to restore Amur tigerhabitat in China. There are also exciting opportunities for tigerrecovery within the Lesser Khingan Mountain Range due toconnectivity with the newly established population of translocatedtigers in adjacent areas of Russia.NEW THINKING ON HABITAT CONNECTIVITYNEW STRATEGY FOR THE GARHA CORRIDORHabitat connectivity is key to enable the movement oftigers and other wildlife but findings from a WWF reportreleased this year, Landscape Connectivity Science andPractice: Ways Forward for Large Ranging Species andTheir Landscapes, shows the need for fundamental changesin current thinking and approaches. The WWF reportshows there needs to be a shift away from linear “A to B”tiger corridors, to a broader focus on maintaining overallconnectivity between tiger habitats, as well as throughunused space, agricultural land or forestry concessions. Italso highlighted the need to engage communities to ensurelong term success.The Garha Corridor in the Indian part of the Terai Arc Landscapeis critical connectivity for Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. In 2020 WWFIndia jointly prepared a Corridor Conservation Strategy withthe Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. WWF-India has beenintensively monitoring this corridor since 2011 and results showit is being used by tigers, leopards, sloth bears and tiger preyspecies. Recommendations to secure the corridor include adeclaration of an Eco-Sensitive Zone which involves working withlocal groups and government to regulate land-use change andreforest roughly 100 hectares with the community’s involvement.TX2 Award Ceremony, Bhutan WWF-BhutanLOOKING FOR A CONNECTION IN SOUTHERNSUMATRASince 2020, WWF-Indonesia has shifted their focus to workoutside conservation areas under the Ministry of Environment andForestry's authority, which is identified as potential tiger habitat.WWF-Indonesia also expanded its network and facilitated morepartners such as local government, corporations, and communities,to be involved in tiger protection efforts.GARHA CORRIDOR Zhu ShibingWWF TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2020Lesser Khingan Mountain Area, ChinaINDIAThe Forest Management Unit in Kaur, Bengkulu Province,conducted a preliminary study on tiger movements and potentialconnectivity in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and Bukit BalaiRejang Selatan. WWF provided capacity building for the staff.An occupancy survey has also been carried out by Kaur's ForestManagement Unit, which found evidence of tigers in the area.It also found that the area faces connectivity threats due to roadconstruction, which will potentially increase the risk of wildliferoadkill and increase access for poachers. T

THE YEAR OF THE TIGER WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDOUBLE EFFORTS AND SECURE A FUTURE FOR WILD TIGERS. NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP UP. to Kazakhstan is also on track with the return of the tiger set for 2024! 2022 will represent both the lunar Year of the Tiger and a Global Tiger Summit - a once in