Save the Wild Tigers

There are less than 4,000 wild tigers left in the world, and that population is in jeopardy. To combat this, we’re using the collective expertise of land-grant universities to save tigers by teaming up with Clemson University, Louisiana State University and the University of Missouri to form a Tiger University Consortium to promote wild tiger conservation.

Land-grant university research was critical to the most successful conservation efforts in North America, including protecting the California condor, grizzly bear, timber wolf, peregrine falcon, and bald eagle.

That same approach can save the international wild tiger population.

At Auburn, we will be hosting two graduate students from India – one of the 13 countries where there are still wild tigers.

The students are professionals, currently working with government natural resource agencies in India.

The students will focus on conservation analysis and planning human-tiger ecosystems. They will examine ways to reduce conflict between humans and tigers in high priority areas and close gaps in conservation funding.  

The students will use their existing networks and conservation experience in India to develop and implement a dissertation project focused on tiger conservation.

Each student will spend about half of the academic program on campus at Auburn, and half on site in India. They also will participate in workshops with colleagues at the other tiger universities. 

Beyond the two initial graduate students, this effort will involve collaborations between other Auburn University faculty and students, and participants in India.

Funding will be necessary to make this a fully transformative research endeavor.  

Please help us begin this effort to save the world’s wild tigers.