As of 2017, there are 3,890 tigers left in the world. However, this still leaves them vulnerable to extinction. These animals are often hunted for their meat, their fur, and to simply say that one has killed a tiger. While it is not one of the “big five” for hunters, it is still considered an incredible opponent to be killed by the most skilled of hunters.
There are also tigers that are abused in circuses and some zoos, so there is still plenty of work to be done in keeping tigers alive. For example, in the wild, only about half of all tiger cubs born survive and make it to adulthood. Sometimes, the whole litter will die and another litter will be born five months later to keep the tigers going.