Status – Endangered, but closer to critical status now
The Indochinese Tiger occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and Cambodia (Luo et al. 2004). Its status is poorly known compared to other Tiger subspecies. Based on national population estimates (see Panthera tigris species account and follow the link below for details), there could be as many as 420–1,000. However, the higher end estimate for Thailand, based on extrapolation of densities found at the best site for tigers in Thailand, Huai Kha Khaeng National Park (Simcharoen et al. 2007), has been criticized as unrealistic (A.J. Lynam pers. comm. 2008). WWF (2009) estimates a lower total figure of just 350 for this subspecies. No single subpopulation is likely larger than 250 due to habitat fragmentation, and the population is declining due to habitat loss, poaching, prey base depletion, and human-tiger conflict.
