Although tigers are not native to South Africa, there is a sizable population there.
Tigers have never resided in Africa, despite the fact that lions were formerly common throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia. Tigers, while being larger and heavier than lions, never inhabited the continent, but they can now be seen in the wild in reserves near Philippolis in the Free State. Why? Because we first met them there.
Although the concept may appear strange, it serves a function. John Varty began a Bengal tiger “re-wilding” initiative in Tiger Canyons near Philippolis in 2000. His objective? To establish a wild Bengal tiger population outside of Asia. Unfortunately, John Varty’s tigers are hybrid species that are not endangered in any way, and his project’s conservation significance has been questioned.
However, in 2002, a collection of 17 abandoned sheep farms in a surrounding area were converted into the Laohu Valley Reserve, a nature reserve.
Critically endangered captive-born South China tigers were also re-wilded here with the goal of releasing them back into the wild in China.
John Varty was initially involved in this project as well, but he mismanaged the project’s budget and so lost his position of influence. Save China’s Tigers now manages the reserve. The tigers live on overgrazed and fenced-off ground within the reserve, so they cannot harm the natural South African environment.
Tigers will they survive in South Africa?
Yes, they may live in Africa due to their physical strength, but it is currently very impossible for them to live in territory ruled by lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Tigers are not as gregarious as lions; unless during mating season, they prefer to live alone, whereas lions frequently live in groups.
How many tigers do we still have in South Africa?
There are around 4,000 wild tigers left in the world. South Africa transported 359 farmed tigers between 2011 and 2020, according to a research by the NGO Four Paws. Zoos bought 255 of them. The tigers are not indigenous to South Africa, and there are no population estimates.
