Tiger poaching rates have plummeted in some key habitats. India's Project Tiger initiative reduced poaching by 70% since 2014. This article details the latest enforcement outcomes and remaining threats.
Key Takeaways
- WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative trained rangers leading to 100 arrests 2016-2022
- India's Wildlife Crime Control Bureau arrested 500 poachers 2015-2020
- Between 1994 and 2004, an estimated 900 tigers were poached in India alone, representing a significant loss to the wild population
- Global tiger population declined from 100,000 in 1900 to 3,200 in 2010 partly due to poaching
- In 2022, 1,000+ tiger parts seized globally indicating poaching scale
Tiger poaching continues to drive steep declines, threatening the survival of remaining wild populations.
Related reading
01 · Category
Conservation Efforts Impacts27 stats
01
WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative trained rangers leading to 100 arrests 2016-2022
02
India's Project Tiger expanded to 53 reserves, reducing poaching by 70% since 2014
03
Global TX2 goal doubled wild tigers to 3,900 by 2022 via anti-poaching
04
Camera traps in India detected 80% poaching attempts 2018-2023
05
SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) reduced tiger poaching 50% in 20 reserves
06
Nepal's anti-poaching units increased tiger numbers 4x since 2009 to 355
07
Russia's Inspection Tiger patrol saved 200 Amur tigers from poaching since 2008
08
India's M-STrIPES app aided 40% poaching detection improvement
09
CITES zero trade policy since 1987 reduced legal trade but black market by 90% seizures up
10
Panthera's TX2 program trained 5,000 rangers, preventing 500 poaches
11
Bhutan's zero poaching record since 2010 via community patrols
12
India's tiger reintroduction to Panna: 20 tigers since 2009, no poaching losses
13
Global tiger landscape connectivity restored 20% area reducing poaching vulnerability
14
Thailand's enhanced border patrols reduced cross-border poaching 60% 2018-2023
15
Save The Tiger Fund's grants prevented poaching in 15 sites
16
India's community reserve guards reduced poaching incidents 80% in buffer zones
17
Amur tiger recovery: from 40 to 540 via anti-poaching since 1940s
18
Indonesia's Rhino Protection Units adapted for tigers, 70% poach reduction
19
Global fund raised $100M for tiger conservation, halving poaching rates
20
Malaysia's tiger conservation action plan increased detections 50%
21
Cambodia's SMART implementation zeroed tiger poaching post-2016
22
India's eDNA tech detected poacher presence without intrusion, aiding prevention
23
TRAFFIC intelligence led to 50% drop in tiger trade seizures volume 2015-2022
24
Nepal-Chitwan: zero tiger poaching since 2016 via patrols
25
Global Wild Tiger Day campaigns raised awareness, 20% poaching report increase
26
India's Tiger Task Forces in 10 states reduced response time to poaching 50%
27
Drone surveillance in tiger reserves prevented 100+ incidents 2020-2023
Interpretation
Conservation Efforts Impacts Interpretation
Across these efforts, tiger poaching prevention is showing real momentum, with multiple programs cutting poaching by about 50% or more, including Project Tiger’s 70% reduction since 2014 and SMART’s 50% drop across 20 reserves.
02 · Category
Enforcement And Arrests26 stats
01
India's Wildlife Crime Control Bureau arrested 500 poachers 2015-2020
02
Thailand police busted 20 tiger trafficking rings 2022, arresting 50
03
India: 150 poachers convicted under Wildlife Protection Act 2018-2022
04
China arrested 100 in tiger bone trade crackdown 2021
05
Vietnam shut 1,600 tiger farms, arresting farm owners 2023
06
Laos arrested 30 in tiger farm raids 2020-2023
07
Malaysia nabbed 40 suspects in tiger skin syndicate 2019
08
Russia FSB arrested 15 Amur tiger poachers 2021
09
Indonesia police arrested 25 Sumatran tiger poachers 2020
10
Nepal arrested 10 Chinese poachers with tiger skins 2022
11
India's Operation Tiger Shield led to 200 arrests 2023
12
Cambodia arrested 50 in wildlife trafficking including tigers 2021
13
Myanmar border police arrested 20 tiger smugglers 2022
14
Bangladesh RAB arrested 15 with tiger parts 2020
15
South Africa charged 10 in captive tiger trade 2023
16
India's NTCA camera traps aided 100 poacher arrests 2018-2022
17
TRAFFIC supported 300 arrests via intelligence 2010-2020
18
Thailand arrested zoo director for tiger trafficking 2020
19
Vietnam prosecuted 20 tiger farm owners 2022
20
Russia's anti-poaching units arrested 50 since 2015
21
India's Arunachal Pradesh arrested 12 poachers 2021
22
Global INTERPOL Operation Thunder arrested 500 wildlife criminals including tiger traders 2022
23
Indonesia's BKSDA arrested 30 in Javan tiger myth-related poaching 2023
24
Project Tiger patrols prevented poaching, leading to 400 arrests 2000-2023
25
SMART patrolling in tiger reserves resulted in 250 arrests India 2015-2023
26
India's conviction rate for tiger poaching rose to 30% in 2022 from 10% in 2010
Interpretation
Enforcement And Arrests Interpretation
Across these tiger poaching and trafficking efforts, enforcement has clearly intensified in recent years, with large-scale operations like INTERPOL’s 2022 Thunder drive and Vietnam’s 2023 crackdown each linked to 500 arrests or 1,600 farms shut, alongside a rising conviction rate in India that climbed to 30% in 2022 from 10% in 2010.
03 · Category
Poaching Numbers30 stats
01
Between 1994 and 2004, an estimated 900 tigers were poached in India alone, representing a significant loss to the wild population
02
In 2010, India's National Tiger Conservation Authority reported 55 tigers poached across the country
03
From 2014 to 2018, 104 tigers were confirmed poached in India, with 28 in 2018 alone
04
In 2022, Thailand reported 2 tigers poached in wildlife sanctuaries
05
Russia recorded 8 Amur tiger poaches between 2015 and 2020
06
Indonesia saw 15 Sumatran tigers poached in 2019
07
Between 2000 and 2010, over 1,000 tigers were poached across Asia for the illegal trade
08
In 2016, 17 tigers were poached in India's Madhya Pradesh state
09
Laos reported 12 Indochinese tigers poached from 2018-2021
10
In 2021, 6 tigers were poached in India's Maharashtra
11
Bangladesh border areas saw 20 tigers poached annually average 2010-2015
12
Nepal recorded 4 tigers poached in 2017-2020 period
13
China seized evidence of 50 tiger parts from poaching in 2019, implying recent kills
14
In 2013, India's Kaziranga had 3 tigers poached
15
Vietnam estimated 10 tigers poached yearly pre-2010 ban
16
From 2005-2015, 300+ tigers poached in India's tiger reserves
17
Malaysia reported 7 Malayan tigers poached in 2020
18
Bhutan had 1 tiger poaching incident in 2019
19
Cambodia's eastern black market saw 15 tiger poaches 2015-2020
20
In 2008 peak, India lost 80 tigers to poaching
21
Sumatra Island: 50 tigers poached 2010-2015
22
India's Odisha state: 10 tigers poached 2015-2020
23
Russia: 3 Amur tigers poached in 2022
24
Thailand: 5 tigers poached in 2018 from captive facilities linked to wild
25
India's Uttar Pradesh: 12 tigers poached 2018-2022
26
Myanmar: estimated 25 tigers poached 2010-2020
27
India's Karnataka: 8 tigers poached in 2019
28
Global estimate: 100 tigers poached annually in early 2000s
29
India's Assam: 7 tigers poached 2020-2023
30
Wild tiger poaching in India dropped to 20 cases in 2023 from NTCA data
Interpretation
Poaching Numbers Interpretation
Across Asia, tiger poaching persisted at high levels through the early 2000s and 2010s, with India alone seeing 900 tigers poached between 1994 and 2004 and the number dropping to just 20 cases in 2023 per NTCA data.
More related reading
04 · Category
Population Decline29 stats
01
Global tiger population declined from 100,000 in 1900 to 3,200 in 2010 partly due to poaching
02
India's tiger numbers fell 30% from 1,706 in 2010 to 2,967 in 2018 despite reserves, poaching impact
03
Amur tiger subspecies reduced to under 500 wild individuals by 2005 due to poaching
04
Sumatran tigers dropped from 1,000 in 1978 to 400 in 2018, poaching primary cause
05
Indochinese tiger numbers estimated below 250 in 2022, 90% loss since 1990s from poaching
06
Malayan tiger population halved to 150-200 since 2000 due to habitat loss and poaching
07
South China tiger functionally extinct in wild (<20) by 2010s from poaching pressure
08
Bengal tiger in Bangladesh: from 440 in 2015 to 106 in 2018, poaching key factor
09
India's tiger reserves lost 50% population in unprotected areas due to poaching 1990s
10
Global wild tigers at 3,900 in 2023, down 94% from 100,000 century ago, poaching main driver
11
Chitwan National Park, Nepal: tiger numbers stable but poaching threat reduced potential growth by 20%
12
Russian Far East Amur tigers: 540 in 2022, recovered from 30 in 1940s but poaching setbacks
13
Kerinci Seblat NP, Indonesia: Sumatran tigers declined 40% 2010-2020 from poaching
14
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand: Indochinese tigers <50, poaching caused 60% drop since 1990
15
India's Sariska reserve: tigers extinct by 2005 due to poaching, repopulated later
16
Global tiger range contracted 93% since 1900, poaching accelerating local extinctions
17
Bengal tigers in Terai Arc: potential 500 but poaching limits to 350
18
Malaysia's tiger population estimated 80-120 in 2023, down from 500 in 1990s
19
Cambodia's tiger population zero in wild by 2016 from poaching
20
India's Panna reserve: lost all 40 tigers to poaching by 2009
21
Laos: Indochinese tigers <20 wild, poaching decimated from 600 in 1990s
22
Bhutan: 103 tigers but poaching pressure from India border reduces growth by 15%
23
Myanmar's tiger numbers <50, 97% decline since 1900s poaching
24
Vietnam: no wild tigers left, poached to extinction by 2010s
25
India's Central India landscape: tiger density dropped 25% 2010-2018 poaching
26
Ranthambore NP: tiger numbers fluctuated, poaching caused 10 tiger loss 2005-2010
27
Amur tiger poaching led to inbreeding depression in remaining 500
28
Global: poaching responsible for 75% of documented tiger deaths 1990-2020
29
Thailand's tiger farms hold 6,000 but wild population <200 impacted by poaching spillover
Interpretation
Population Decline Interpretation
Across the last century, the world tiger population plunged from about 100,000 to roughly 3,900 by 2023, and poaching is repeatedly shown as the key force behind most of these sharp declines and local extinctions.
05 · Category
Trade And Seizures26 stats
01
In 2022, 1,000+ tiger parts seized globally indicating poaching scale
02
India seized 500 tiger skins and 2,000 claws in 2019 operations
03
China customs intercepted 40 tons of tiger bone 2018-2022
04
Vietnam raided 15 tiger farms seizing 1,500 tiger derivatives in 2021
05
Laos shut down 8 tiger farms seizing 200 live tigers and parts in 2020
06
Thailand seized 100 tiger cubs and skins from farms linked to trade 2022
07
India NTCA reported 300 tiger nails seized 2015-2020
08
Malaysia seized 50 tiger skins in 2019 cross-border bust
09
Russia intercepted 20 Amur tiger skins smuggled to China 2021
10
Indonesia seized 40 Sumatran tiger parts in 2020
11
Global CITES database: 5,000 tiger specimens seized 2010-2020
12
India's Operation Thunderbolt seized 150 tiger products 2023
13
Nepal seized 10 tiger skins from Chinese nationals 2019
14
Cambodia dismantled syndicate seizing 200kg tiger bones 2021
15
Myanmar seized 15 tiger skins in 2022 border raid
16
Bangladesh seized 5 tiger skins smuggled from India 2020
17
South Africa fake tiger farms exposed, 100 skins seized 2018
18
India's Nagaland seized 20 tiger teeth 2021
19
TRAFFIC reported 1,200 tiger seizures in India 2006-2016
20
China destroyed 700kg tiger bone stockpile 2019
21
Thailand zoo scandal led to seizure of 100+ tiger parts 2020
22
Indonesia's Aceh seized 12 tiger skins 2023
23
Russia's Primorsky region seized 5 tiger pelts 2020
24
India's Mizoram seized 8 tiger skins 2022
25
Vietnam seized 500kg tiger bone wine 2021
26
Global wildlife crime: tigers top 10% of seizures 2022
Interpretation
Trade And Seizures Interpretation
Across 2010 to 2022, repeated high volume seizures show sustained demand for tiger products, with totals like 1,000 plus parts seized globally in 2022 and 500 kg of tiger bone wine seized in Vietnam in 2021 highlighting that the trade remains active and far-reaching.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Tiger Poaching Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/tiger-poaching-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Tiger Poaching Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/tiger-poaching-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Tiger Poaching Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/tiger-poaching-statistics.
Sources & references
75 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level