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Wild tiger numbers higher than previously thought
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This undated handout photo from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation-Panthera-Zoological Society of London-RCU released on July 29, 2020 shows a tiger taken with a remote camera trap in a remote region of western Thailand. - Rare footage of new tigers prowling through jungles in western Thailand is being lauded by conservationists, who warn Southeast Asia is the frontline of the battle to save the endangered big cat. ( Handout/DNP-Panthera-ZSL-RCU/AFP/-)
T
here are 40 percent more tigers in the wild than previously thought, but with a maximum of 5,578 on the prowl, they remain an endangered species, conservationists said Thursday.
The jump in numbers is due to improved monitoring, with the population thought to be stable or increasing, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but habitat protection projects showed that "recovery is possible".
The tiger reassessment came as the IUCN updated its Red List of Threatened Species -- the world's most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of plants, animals and fungi, assessing their risk of extinction.
The migratory monarch butterfly is now classified as an endangered species on the Red List due to climate change and habitat destruction.
And all surviving sturgeon species are now at risk of extinction due to dams and poaching.
"Today's Red List update highlights the fragility of nature's wonders, such as the unique spectacle of monarch butterflies migrating across thousands of kilometres," said IUCN director general Bruno Oberle.
"To preserve the rich diversity of nature we need effective, fairly governed, protected and conserved areas, alongside decisive action to tackle climate change and restore ecosystems."
