Why is rehabilitation of tigers necessary?
When populations of free-living wildlife species are robust there is little need for the rehabilitation of individuals as a conservation strategy. Unfortunately tiger populations are far from robust and the species is under enormous pressure everywhere. In this situation every individual tiger is important and rehabilitation may be one of the necessary tools for the species’ survival. There is no doubt that the rescue and rehabilitation of individual tigers requires a lot of time, work and money – precious resources that some would argue could be spent more productively in other avenues of tiger conservation. However, efforts to rehabilitate injured, sick and orphaned tigers may help raise the profile and awareness of the species’ plight, and receive funding from sources not available to other conservation activities.
There are many reasons that tigers may require rehabilitation including:
- Trauma caused by gunshot wounds, collisions with cars or trains, and injuries acquired in poachers’ traps and snares.
- Removal from the wild following human-tiger conflicts. Both adult animals and cubs can be involved in the tiger-human conflict, and although translocation of these individuals may be the first option, thorough examination and investigation of the cause of conflict may be necessary in a rehabilitation centre prior to consideration of release.
- Individuals suffering from infectious disease caused by certain viruses, bacteria or parasites. Affected tigers be sick as a result of infection, and may also pose a threat as a source of disease to other free-living cats.
- Following confiscation from illegal possession.
- New-borns separated (intentionally or accidentally) from their mother – i.e. orphans.
- In most tiger range states euthanasia of seriously injured tigers is not culturally acceptable, and rehabilitation therefore becomes essential – even if the tiger will never be fit for life back in the wild.
Rehabilitation of wild tigers and their preparation for return to the wild includes a number of stages, and each stage requires veterinary support. Suggestions made on this website are not exclusive, nor are they exhaustive or prescriptive, but underlying principles are explained and examples offered of ways in which these principles can be incorporated into the design and management of suitable rehabilitation facilities. Each country and locality will need to develop their own solutions shaped by local circumstances. The information provided is based on a limited number of published articles and experience from some existing centres.