Of the initial 8 recognized subspecies of tiger, 2 (Balinese, Javan) have become extinct and the remaining 6 (Bengal, Indo-Chinese, Sumatran, Siberian/Amur, South China, Malayan) are endangered. As of 2008, approximately 1,400 Bengal tigers are all that remain in the wilds of India and are hanging on to existence via a variety of nature preserves. On the other hand, the Siberian tiger has been reduced to a wild population of 400 to 450 individuals.
The Siberian or Amur tiger has a worldwide captive population just under 500: North American Species Survival Plan population is 150 tigers, European Breeding Program population approximately 225 tigers, Japanese zoos retain about 90 tigers.
As of 1998, an estimated 400 to 500 Sumatran tigers roamed the wilds, but some current numbers suggest as few as 136 tigers are left. The captive population includes 65 Sumatran tigers in Indonesian zoos, 55 tigers in North American zoos, 100 in European zoos, and 12 in Australasian zoos.
By 1995, officials believed the wild South China tiger population had dwindled to less than 20 individuals.
There is an estimated wild population of Indo-Chinese tigers from 700 to 1,225.
At least 500 tigers are thought to remain in Malaysia.
Javan Tiger has been extinct since the early 1980’s
Bali Tiger has been extinct since the 1940’s
Decline of all tiger species
1900 = 100,000
1950 = 60,000
1960 = 45,000
1970 = 30,000
1980 = 25,000
1990 = 7,000
2008 = 2,200-3,100
2025 = extinct in wild
A genetic note:
The classification of tiger subspecies has taken a few turns recently as the Indo-Chinese subspecies, after genetic analysis, was found to actually harbor two distinct populations and as such was split to include the Indo-Chinese and Malayan populations in 2004. Here is a link to the publication.
In January 2009, genetic analysis revealed that the previously recognized Caspian subspecies, extinct in the wild since the 1970s, is genetically identical to the Siberian tiger. Thus, the number of subspecies remains at 8, but extinct populations have been reduced to 2 and living subspecies increased to 6.
Data: Big Cat Rescue, Save the Tiger Fund, IUCN
