Tiger Rewilding
Rewilding is a complex, multi-stage conservation strategy of reintroducing tigers into former or new suitable habitats to establish self-sustaining wild populations, restoring not just the species but the entire ecosystem. The ultimate goal is to enable tigers to develop independent survival skills and ensure their long-term viability in the wild.
Origins & Inspiration
The first-ever tiger rewilding project began in China's Fujian Province in 1998. This initial effort was later expanded into a larger, collaborative experiment led by Li Quan, the founding director of China Tiger Revival, in partnership with Chinese conservation authorities.
This audiovisual production is adapted from Rewilded, Saving the South China Tiger ā a photodocumentary book by L. Quan that chronicles the rewilding journey of the South China tiger. The narrative is brought to life through rare historical footage filmed during the actual rewilding process.
Follow us on Youtube for more chapters: China Tiger Revival
š¬ Official Trailer: "Last China Tiger" Documentary by France 2 TV
Watch the official trailer for the acclaimed 2-hour documentary by France 2 television, which explores the critical conservation efforts to save the South China tiger from extinction.
Full documentary available on France 2
Key Aspects and Global Examples
Tiger rewilding requires restoration and management across several critical areas:
- Habitat and Prey Restoration: Projects create and repair habitats and ensure an adequate prey base to support the new tiger population.
- Survival Training: Captive-bred or translocated tigers undergo specialized training in semi-wild "adaptation zones" to learn essential skills like hunting and territorial defense.
- Ecosystem and Community Focus: Rewilding involves restoring entire ecosystems and actively working with local communities to ensure sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.
- Monitoring and Management: Continuous, long-term monitoring tracks the tigers' progress and helps mitigate risks like human-wildlife conflict.
Global Rewilding Efforts
- China: Dedicated to saving the critically endangered South China tiger in Fujian Province.
- Kazakhstan: Working to reintroduce the Amur tiger (Siberian tiger) after a 70-year absence.
- India: Successful translocation programs have been used to reintroduce tigers to reserves like Sariska and Panna.
The focus on tigers, known as charismatic megafauna, helps galvanize the political and public will needed to fund and execute these large-scale ecosystem restoration projects, which benefit overall biodiversity.
