Some venture capitalists this week pledged $10 million to support a scientific effort aimed at saving tigers.
The effort, led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is called Tigers Forever. The scientists say proper conservation could increase tiger numbers across a dozen sites from 800 to 1,200.
The programs predictions are based on successes in bolstering tiger populations in Indias Nagarahole National Park and the Russian Far East.
Experts do not know how many tigers remain in the wild, but they believe there are only 3,000 to 5,000 left.
WCS trustees Michael Cline and Tom Kaplan, both of the Panthera Foundation, pledged $10 million over ten years to help fund the initiative.
The plan is to work with local governments and other partners to gain knowledge on tigers in the dozen locations and step up anti-poaching efforts.
Posted: July 10, 2006, 5:00 a.m. EST