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As the largest cat species, wild tigers embody the importance of big cats to their ecosystems. But with only about 4,500 remaining, coexisting with these carnivores is more important than ever. In this blog, Dr. Abishek Harihar, Panthera Tiger Program Director, details what we are doing to conserve the world’s largest big cat.

In honor of Global Tiger Day 2019 (July 29), Panthera’s team of tiger experts has answered some of your most frequently asked questions about tiger behavior, policy, conservation and culture.  We’ve shared some of the Q&A below, or you can watch our experts in action answering your questions on video here.

Tigers have a reputation of being dangerous and scary, but are they actually?

For our first entry into the brand-new blog series, Small Cat Spotlight, we’re bringing you one of the world’s rarest and most endangered cats: the flat-headed cat. This elusive feline, which earned its name from its flattened forehead, has rarely been observed in the wild. They are at risk from habitat loss and illegal trade and are considered Southeast Asia’s most threatened small felid. Although classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, some scientists believe that there may be more flat-headed cats out there than we’ve caught on camera.

Last year, the world rejoiced over reports that wild tiger numbers had increased for the first time in more than 100 years. This was certainly feel-good news — and something we’ve always hoped to hear — but was it true?

Editor's Note: A version of this post was published on One Green Planet. See the original article here. 

Recent claims that global numbers of wild tigers are increasing are puzzling. Tiger numbers have increased in a handful of sites — the Western Ghats in India, Chitwan in Nepal, and perhaps Huai Kha Khaeng in Thailand, to name a few. In these places, where governments are committed to delivering rigorous protection, as well as conducting comprehensive, science-based surveys, tiger recovery is happening, and there is data to prove it.