The Indochinese tiger, also known as Corbett's tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), is a subspecies of tiger that is now extremely rare in the wild; fewer than two hundred and fifty individuals are estimated to live in the forests of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. This large feline, which once held sway across the whole of Southeast Asia, has been decimated by poaching, deforestation and large-scale infrastructure development. Encouraging news for this charismatic species is, however, emerging from the dense jungle of eastern Thailand.

A new breeding population

During a census of Thailand's tigers, researchers from the nature conservation organisations Freeland and Panthera, working in collaboration with Thailand's Department of National Parks, used camera traps to discover a small breeding population of Indochinese tigers with at least six cubs, in a national park located in eastern Thailand, in the area of the Dong-Phayayen Khao Yai Forest Complex. Before this group was found, only one other resident and breeding population of Indochinese tigers was known to exist anywhere in the world. This is therefore an exceptional discovery that could mean a less precarious future for this rare mammal.

Also listen to: La storia di Vladik, la tigre ribelle

The success of conservation

According to environmental organisations, this discovery is the fruit of intensified anti-poaching efforts in Thailand and the enforcement of conservation policies. Among these, the Tx2 project launched by Wwf in 2010 stands out; it aims to double the number of wild tigers by 2022.

A miraculous comeback

"The return of tigers to eastern Thailand is nothing short of miraculous," said an enthusiastic John Goodrich, director of Panthera's tiger programme. "The intensification of anti-poaching patrols and action to combat this phenomenon have played a fundamental role in the conservation of tiger populations, guaranteeing them a safe environment in which to breed," explained Songtam Suksawang, director of Thailand's national parks. "We must, however, remain vigilant and continue these efforts, because poachers still represent a serious threat."

The decline and rise of Thailand's tigers

Thailand fell victim to uncontrolled deforestation that drastically reduced its green areas, to such an extent that logging was banned in 1980. To reverse this trend the country established several national parks, but these were initially blighted by illegal logging and poaching. As a result of these factors, in the early 2000s it was believed that only very small and fragmented tiger populations remained in Thailand. Today, however, thanks to the proper management of its parks, the country finds itself unexpectedly serving as the last stronghold of the Indochinese tiger.