Tigers
Panthera tigris
The tiger has lived on this planet for more than two million years. Today tigers occupy only about 7% of their historical range. Tigers face an uncertain future due to depletion of habitat and abundance of prey species, poaching and human conflict where tigers habitat and human habitation overlap.
With an estimated 4,000 left alive in the wild today, tigers need all the help they can get. Some reviews have suggested that tigers face iminent danger of extinction.
The Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the WildCats Conservation Alliance is determined to turn this trend around and with your help we are actively supporting projects aimed at reducing the pressures on wild tiger populations – especially the Sumatran Tiger in Indonesia and the Amur Tiger in Russia.
Current Projects
WildCats Conservation Alliance
The Aim: The mission is to save wild tigers and Amur leopards for future generations by funding carefully chosen conservation projects. The Wild Cats Conservation Alliance works with all stakeholders to raise significant funds and promote public awareness of cat conservation through effective communication.
The Partners: WildCats Conservation Alliance is an initiative of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation (DWF). It is the culmination of merging two well-respected wildlife funding bodies; 21st Century Tiger and the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA) in 2018.
The Location: WildCats Conservation Alliance is based in London’s Regent’s Park.
The Results: The Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation and ZSL fully fund the WildCats Conservation Alliance to enable 100% of donations received to be directly applied to conservation projects that protect wild tigers and Amur leopards. The WildCats Conservation Alliance has applied over $7.75 million AUD to approved projects with a substantial amount of that coming from world zoos.
Flora & Fauna International (project facilitated through the WildCats Conservation Alliance)
The Aim: To secure the effective protection and conservation of Sumatran tigers through reduced threat in a national park that forms the core (1.38 million hectares) of the globally important Kerinci Tiger Conservation Landscape.
The Partners: Fauna & Flora International’s mission is to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take into account human needs. FFI’s work spans across the globe with over 140 projects in over 40 countries.
The Location: Kerinci Seblat
The Results: Since 1999 DWF has contributed funds each year, totalling more than $800,000 AUD. This has kept 6 Wildlife Protection Units consistently in the Kerinci National Park in Indonesia and reduced the impact of poaching in the National Park.
Phoenix Fund (project facilitated through the WildCats Conservation Alliance)
The Aim: To reduce poaching of Amur tigers and their prey species, Improve law enforcement efforts within federal-level protected areas and to raise people’s awareness about the state of, and the threats to, the Amur tiger population.
The Partners: The Phoenix Fund is a Russian wildlife and forest conservation organisation serving regions of the Russian Far East, especially Primorksi Krai and Khabarovsk Krai. This area includes globally significant biodiversity, including the Amur leopard, Siberian tiger and other predators. Some of the programs are anti-poaching activities, resolution of human tiger conflicts.
The Location: Russian Far East
The Results: Since 2005 DWF has contributed funds each year, totalling more than $550,000 AUD. This has kept a consistent level of anti-poaching patrols and active community education programs running throughout the region.
Latest From The Field
Flora & Fauna International
- Six Tiger Protection & Conservation Units were active and conducted a total of 62 SMART forest patrols in national park and buffer-zone forests
- Patrols made a total of 53 Sumatran tiger records, demonstrating an increased frequency of tiger presence over 2016 data
- Active threats to tigers dramatically reduced with only seven active snares recorded on patrols, compared to 32 recorded in the same six month period in 2016 – a 78% reduction
- Investigations were conducted in park edge districts (included the free port of Batam Is.) a well known exit point from Indonesia for smuggled wildlife and in to Jakarta
- Three investigations supported law enforcement actions, resulting the arrest of 10 tiger poachers or traders. This work has resulted in some custodial sentencing.
- Three human-tiger conflicts, one involving a tigress and her two cubs were mitigated during the reporting period, all before any impacts to livestock, and on the basis of post conflict monitoring were safely resolved
- The project team facilitated the revion of an MoU between the national park authority and the police authorities of the four provinces which overlay the protected area to strengthen collaborations and to address the illegal wildlife trade and forest crime more widely
Phoenix Fund
- Introduction of SMART into 7 sites in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society, Phoenix and ZSL.
- This has assisted to curb poaching and improve the effectiveness of Protected Area managers in allocating scarce resources.
- Five feedback meetings were hosted across the five key Protected Area sites to create and sustain information flows between rangers and wildlife managers. There is now a coordinated approach between rangers in the various Protected Area sites.
- SMART mapping has seen a larger proportion of the Protected Areas now reached by law enforcement patrols and weak spots better identified.
- A decline in registered violations has been recorded (especially poaching)
- Personnel in the Protected areas are becoming more self sufficient as confidence in the use of the SMART approach improves, with the Ussuriisky Nature Reserve now almost fully independent from technical and management support from the project.
- A staff bonus system has been introduced based on monitoring milestones and has been well received.
- SMART monitoring is now being expanded to new sites (Bikin National Park) with the direct support from the Moscow based Ministry. The Bikin National Park would be the largest protected area with tigers in the world.
- The projects Ecological Education Program is conducted in eight eco-centres (five supported by the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation), reaching 9,594 children and young people since January 2017.
Through the Adopt an Animal program you can help your favourite species by adopting them into your family. 100% goes to supporting wildlife projects in the wild.
The Adopt an Animal Program lasts for twelve (12) months.
Support the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation by making a donation to help protect endangered species. Donations from $5 can be made online.
Get up close and personal with one of the many animals who call Dreamworld home. A percentage of funds from all wildlife experiences goes to the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation, supporting the conservation of threatened and endangered species.
The newest additions to the Dreamworld family are growing up fast!
Zakari and Javi were born 26 April 2019, and Khan arrived exactly one month later as the only cub of his litter. You can see the boys daily at Tiger Island.
Khan
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 26 May 2019 |
| Sex: | Male | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
Khan put his imprint on the Tiger Island family as he took the limelight on Sunday 26 May, as the only cub of his litter. His name, meaning a leader who focuses on important issues, reflects his stripes and greater purpose at Dreamworld.
Javi
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 26 April 2019 |
| Sex: | Male | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
Javi made his first paw print on the world alongside his brother, Zakari, on Friday 26 April. As the first litter conceived by our own Adira and Pi, the paw-fect pair join their Tiger Island family in sharing the important message of global tiger conservation. True to the cub’s stripes Javi, meaning victorious, is from an Indian origin, where tigers roam in the wild.
Zakari
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 26 April 2019 |
| Sex: | Male | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
35 minutes older than his brother, Zakari greeted the world as the first cub of his litter to first-time parents, Adira and Pi. The name is associated with individuals who have a desire to inspire others in a higher cause, which goes hand-in-hand with our global conservation drive. He will walk in the paws of his tiger family with his brother Javi, being the next generation of incredible ambassadors for their endangered cousins in the wild.
Adira
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 29 November 2015 |
| Sex: | Female | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
Adira and her sister Akasha were born at Tiger Island on the 29th November, 2015 to mother Nika. Adira meaning 'strong and noble' will help raise awareness on the plight of tigers and need for tiger conservation for their cousins in the wild.
Pi
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 19 July 2010 |
| Sex: | Male | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
| Weight: | 125kgs |
Born at Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve, Pi, the main character in the book "Life of Pi" was mis-mothered and transferred to Dreamworld to be hand-reared by Dreamworld's experienced tiger handlers. The transfer has given Pi the opportunity to socialise with the other big cats.
Jaya
| Species: | Sumatran Tiger | D.O.B: | 9 June 2008 |
| Sex: | Female | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
Jaya and her two sisters Shanti and Ndari were born at Tiger Island. 'Jaya' meaning 'victory' was chosen for its significance to the survival of the species. Jaya and her sisters are an important part of the Global Species Management Program.
Shanti
| Species: | Sumatran Tiger | D.O.B: | 9 June 2008 |
| Sex: | Female | Colour: | Golden with dark stripes |
Shanti and her two sisters Jaya and Ndari were born at Tiger Island. 'Shanti' means 'inner peace' in an ancient, classical Indian language. Shanti and her sisters are an important part of the Global Species Management Program.
Kiko
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 2 November 2015 |
| Sex: | Female | Colour: | White with dark stripes |
Kiko and sister Kali were born at Hirakawa Zoo in Kagoshima City on the 2nd November, 2015 and transferred to Dreamworld on the 16th February, 2016. The tigers will help raise awareness of the plight of their cousins in the wild to help fund projects in the wild through the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation.
Kali
| Species: | Tiger Panthera tigris | D.O.B: | 2 November 2015 |
| Sex: | Female | Colour: | White with dark stripes |
Kali, and sister Kiko, were were born at Hirakawa Zoo in Kagoshima City on the 2nd November, 2015 and transferred to Dreamworld on the 16th February, 2016. The tigers will help raise awareness of the plight of their cousins in the wild to help fund projects in the wild through the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation.
- Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world. Adults can weigh up to 363kg – that’s about the same as ten ten year olds! – and measure up to 3.3m!
- Today, there are five subspecies of tiger: Bengal, South China, Indochinese, Sumatran and Amur (Siberian). Sadly, three subspecies of tiger have become extinct - Caspian, Bali and Javan. The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest and darkest tiger subspecies.
- Tigers are carnivores, eating only meat. They mainly feed on large mammals such as deer, wild pigs, antelope and buffalo. Tigers are solitary hunters, and generally search for food alone at night. They quietly stalk their prey until they are close enough to pounce – then they kill their victim with a bite to the neck or back of the head. Ouch!
- Unlike most members of the cat family, tigers like water. They are good swimmers and often cool off in pools or streams.
- They may be big and heavy, but tigers are by no means slow movers. In fact, at full speed they can reach up to 65km/h!
- These fierce felines have walked the earth for a long time. Fossil remains of tigers found in parts of China are believed to be 2 million years old.
- Every tiger in the world is unique – no two tigers have the same pattern of stripes.
- Less than 100 years ago, tigers could be found throughout Asia. Sadly, hunting and habitat loss have put populations at risk, and today their range has been reduced to around 7% of its former size. That’s why we need to do all we can to protect these beautiful beasts!
