Distinguished tiger conservationists whose work spans diverse habitats in the tiger’s geographic range present an overview of regional and global challenges to tiger conservation and the ways in which scientific methods can provide information to help develop effective conservation solutions.

There are many hidden challenges to tiger conservation. The tiger itself is a rare and elusive animal. Even locating individuals is difficult, yet ultimately we need knowledge of population trends and landscape use to understand how this species will respond to environmental change and increasing human threats. Many of these threats, such as poaching and the wildlife trade, are as cryptic as the tigers, yet accurate and detailed information on these illegal activities is essential for effective protection.

In addition, tigers often live in challenging remote, forested habitats which hamper efforts to establish and maintain effective conservation programmes. It is critical, therefore, that we employ reliable, scientifically rigorous and effective techniques to gain information not only on tiger biology and ecology but also on the human-related factors affecting their survival.