相較於過去150年棲息於亞洲地區的10萬隻老虎，保育人士估計現存的野生老虎僅剩下5000隻。而主要為探討老虎於泰國生存的潛在危機之新研究，一直以來都期盼能增加這些大貓的數量，以避免他們走向滅絕之路。
紐約野生保育協會的科學家與泰國國家公園、野生動物及植物保育部科學小組共同合作，進行研究位於泰國西部，且連結了國家公園及野生動物保護區的森林，其面積約1萬8000平方公里。而經過研究與觀察後，他們認為該森林具有支援2000隻老虎生存的潛力，並因而成為全球老虎棲息地的據點之ㄧ。
此外，科學家發現大約有720隻老虎棲息於西部森林中，相較於由印度保護區的野生動物保育協會科學家之報告數據，其分布密度有偏低的現象。
野生動物保育協會表示，儘管老虎密度過低，但在泰國仍保有良好且充足的老虎棲息地，其中仍有25%的地區為森林，還有15%的地區受野生動物保育法管轄。
根據刊載於最新Oryx期刊的研究報告表示，若要讓老虎數量確實增加，加強老虎及其獵物的防護措施，以免他們遭到獵人捕捉是非常重要的。
但由於人類侵占，泰國西部森林正面臨著棲息地分化的危機，森林不斷遭到砍伐，以謄出空間來因應持續成長的人口數。
Conservationists estimate that today 5,000 tigers remain in the wild, down from 100,000 tigers that inhabited Asia alone just 150 years ago. Now, a new study of the potential for tigers to survive in Thailand has hope soaring that the endangered big cats may not be headed for extinction.
Scientists at the New York based Wildlife Conservation Society, working with a scientific team in Thailand Department of National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, have been studying Thailand's Western Forest Complex - a 18,000 square kilometer network of parks and wildlife reserves.
They learned that this area can potentially support some 2,000 tigers, which would make it one of the world's tiger strongholds .
The scientists found that the entire Western Forest Complex currently supports an estimated 720 tigers. These tiger densities are lower than those reported by Wildlife Conservation Society scientists from some protected areas in India.
Despite the lower densities, plenty of good tiger habitat remains in Thailand, with 25 percent of the nation still forested, and 15 percent of it managed under wildlife protection legislation, says the Wildlife Conservation Society.
To make these numbers a reality, better enforcement to safeguard both tigers and their prey from poachers is critical, according to the study, which appears in latest issue of the journal "Oryx."
The entire Western Forest Complex is experiencing habitat fragmentation driven by human encroachments as forests are felled and cleared to make room for a growing human population.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
