New Delhi: Every year on 29 July, International Tiger Day is observed globally. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about tigers which are an endangered species. According to the United Nations (UN), the population of tigers has fallen by 95 percent in the last century due to causes including wildlife trafficking and habitat loss. Tigers are top predators and are essential to the environment as they play a significant role in maintaining the harmony of the ecosystem. World Tiger Day was first observed in the year 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. Around thirteen tiger range countries came together and decided to double the number of wild tigers by the end of the year 2022. World Tiger Day plays a key role in spreading awareness about tiger conservation. According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there may have been 100,000 tigers at the beginning of the 20th century. The number was drastically reduced to 3,200 in the year 2010. Therefore, it becomes extremely important to save the wild cats. Last year, the theme for the day was “Their survival is in our hands.” However, this year’s theme for International Tiger Day has not been announced yet.
