Camera trap footage reveals a female Malayan tiger with her four cubs in Malaysia's protected forests
Photo: WWF MalaysiaRichmond's Commitment to Saving Wild Tigers
Raylene Easton
29 July, 2025From Near Extinction to Recovery
Today marks Global Tiger Day, and we're proud to share how Richmond Football Club continues to lead the way in tiger conservation efforts around the world. The numbers tell an incredible story of conservation success. In 2010, the global wild tiger population hit a devastating low of just 3,200 tigers. This crisis led to the world's 13 tiger range countries uniting with an ambitious goal known as TX2 – to double wild tiger numbers by 2022. Today, we're pleased to report that wild tiger populations have increased to an estimated 5,574 tigers worldwide. While we're still far from where we need to be, this represents significant progress in the fight against extinction.
Richmond's Seven-Year Conservation Journey
For the past seven years, Richmond has been at the forefront of tiger conservation efforts. Our players and Tiger ambassadors Nick Vlastuin and Toby Nankervis have traveled to Sumatra and Central India to witness firsthand how successful conservation can be achieved. Through our Tiger Conservation Membership program, we've been supporting WWF Malaysia's vital work in protecting the critically endangered Malayan Tiger. With fewer than 150 tigers remaining in Malaysia, every conservation effort counts.
Making a Real Difference
The results of our support are tangible and inspiring. Earlier this year, three of WWF Malaysia's Tiger Patrol units covered an incredible 4,158 kilometers during January to March alone. These dedicated teams removed snares and traps from forests, with one active snare recorded and one inactive snare discovered. Most remarkably, these patrol teams have reduced active snares by 94% since 2017 in Malaysia's Belum-Temengor forest complex. During the first quarter of 2025, their vigilance led to one poaching case being reported to law enforcement, resulting in the arrest of three individuals.
Technology Meets Conservation
Camera traps continue to be a vital tool in monitoring tiger activity. As of March 2025, 218 camera trap locations with 436 cameras were operational in Belum-Temengor, though 67 camera traps were damaged by wildlife and 48 were lost or stolen. Recent footage captured a heartwarming sight – a female Malayan tiger with four cubs in tow, offering genuine hope for the species' future. Three cubs were positioned in front of the mother, with the fourth cub on her right, creating a truly magical moment caught on camera.
Ongoing Challenges
While celebrating these successes, we must acknowledge the challenges that remain. Tigers in Southeast Asia still face threats from poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and human-tiger conflict. Every part of the tiger – skin, teeth, flesh, and bones – continues to be traded illegally for traditional remedies and status symbols. This is why continued support and vigilance from conservation programs like ours remains absolutely critical.
Join the Fight
As members of the Tiger Army, you can join Richmond's conservation efforts by becoming a Tiger Conservation member. Your membership directly funds WWF's anti-poaching patrol teams and includes a plush tiger toy, exclusive updates throughout the year, competitions, messages from players, and a general admission ticket to a Richmond home game. You can also support tiger conservation by choosing forest-friendly products, avoiding tiger part souvenirs when traveling, and refusing to participate in tiger interaction experiences. This Global Tiger Day, let's remember that being part of the Tiger Army means more than supporting our beloved Richmond Football Club – it means helping to ensure wild tigers survive for future generations. Ready to make a difference? Visit our Tiger Conservation membership page and join the fight to save wild tigers from extinction. Go Tigers – both on the field and in the wild!