Vientiane: The Lao PDR has advanced its efforts to restore wild tigers by finalizing the National Tiger Recovery Action Plan (NTRAP) 2026-2035, a national framework to guide conservation efforts in key ecological landscapes. The initiative comes as there has been no confirmed evidence of wild tigers in Laos since 2013, when the last sighting was recorded via camera traps in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park.
According to Lao News Agency, the NTRAP addresses the urgent need to prevent the local extinction of tigers and establish conditions for their future recovery. The plan is part of Laos' commitment as a tiger range country and aligns with global and national strategies on forests and biodiversity.
The final consultation meeting for the Action Plan was held in Vientiane, organized by the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, with support from WWF-Laos. The meeting included provincial forestry authorities, wildlife and law-enforcement agencies, conservation organizations, and development partners. It was co-chaired by Mr. Thoumthone Vongvisouk, Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry, and Ms. Heron Holloway, Country Director of WWF-Laos.
Mr. Thoumthone emphasized the importance of restoring wild tiger populations through priority conservation landscapes and national strategies. Recent global estimates suggest around 5,700 tigers remain in the wild. Although Laos is a tiger range country, its absence of confirmed records since 2013 excludes it from global population estimates. However, experts see potential for recovery due to remaining forest cover and suitable habitats.
Snaring, driven by the illegal wildlife trade, poses a significant threat to tiger recovery in Laos. Millions of snares impact more than 700 terrestrial species, reducing prey populations and undermining recovery prospects. Ms. Holloway highlighted the importance of tigers in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems, which benefit both people and wildlife.
WWF-Laos' new Strategic Plan identifies tigers as a priority species. In alignment with the NTRAP, efforts will focus on landscapes like Nam Poui National Protected Area, an ASEAN Heritage Park with potential for tiger recovery due to its biodiversity and strategic location.
Once approved, the implementation of the NTRAP is expected to restore forests, rebuild prey populations, and enhance protection across priority landscapes. Through collaboration between government, conservation partners, and local communities, Laos aims to create conditions for wild tigers to thrive once more.