Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
From folklore and stories to conservation efforts, tigers have long captivated the human imagination and attention of people around the world, serving as a unifying force about the crucial role wildlife play in nature, as well as cultures, art, and literature. While tiger numbers have been on the upswing and their conservation has seen many successes, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure their sustained survival in the wild. In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, Alexander Nicolas and Dechen Dorji talk about the awe-inspiring world of tiger conservation and how they can continue to be a symbol of strength, resilience, and biodiversity conservation.
About Dechen Dorji: Dechen is the vice president for Asia on the Wildlife Conservation team at WWF. Dechen oversees WWF-US’s wildlife efforts in Asia, working across WWF’s network to help develop, implement, and mobilize resources for WWF’s wildlife conservation priorities in Asia. Dechen previously served as WWF’s Country Representative in Bhutan, and he also received the National Order of Merit, Gold, from His Majesty the King for the Bhutan for Life initiative and his services to the Bhutanese environmental sector. Learn more about Dechen: worldwildlife.org/experts/dechen-dorji
Join us and learn more about wildlife conservation at the Wildlife Cafe: worldwildlife.org/pages/wildlife-cafe
Links to learn more:
Facts about tigers: worldwildlife.org/species/tiger
Why tiger landscapes need sustainable financing now: worldwildlife.org/stories/why-tiger-landscapes-need-sustainable-financing-now
Transformative Tigers: Nature’s Charismatic Climate Heroes: worldwildlife.org/stories/transformative-tigers-nature-s-charismatic-climate-heroes
WWF’s Dechen Dorji on keeping the spirit of the Year of the Tiger close to our hearts: worldwildlife.org/stories/wwf-s-dechen-dorji-on-keeping-the-spirit-of-the-year-of-the-tiger-close-to-our-hearts
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Chapters:
0:00 In this episode…
0:23 Welcome to Wildlife Café!
1:36 Crash course in the past 12 years of tiger conservation
4:34 What does the next 12 years look like for tigers?
6:30 Why is it important to keep pushing for tiger conservation?
8:00 How does protecting tigers also protect biodiversity writ large?
8:43 Tigers as cultural icons and how they inspire action
11:27 How do we ensure a sustainable future for tigers?
13:54 With the wave of a wand, what would Dechen change to help tigers?
17:01 Dechen’s experience seeing a tiger in the “wild”
From folklore and stories to conservation efforts, tigers have long captivated the human imagination and attention of people around the world, serving as a unifying force about the crucial role wildlife play in nature, as well as cultures, art, and literature. While tiger numbers have been on the upswing and their conservation has seen many successes, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure their sustained survival in the wild. In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, Alexander Nicolas and Dechen Dorji talk about the awe-inspiring world of tiger conservation and how they can continue to be a symbol of strength, resilience, and biodiversity conservation.
About Dechen Dorji: Dechen is the vice president for Asia on the Wildlife Conservation team at WWF. Dechen oversees WWF-US’s wildlife efforts in Asia, working across WWF’s network to help develop, implement, and mobilize resources for WWF’s wildlife conservation priorities in Asia. Dechen previously served as WWF’s Country Representative in Bhutan, and he also received the National Order of Merit, Gold, from His Majesty the King for the Bhutan for Life initiative and his services to the Bhutanese environmental sector. Learn more about Dechen: worldwildlife.org/experts/dechen-dorji
Join us and learn more about wildlife conservation at the Wildlife Cafe: worldwildlife.org/pages/wildlife-cafe
Links to learn more:
Facts about tigers: worldwildlife.org/species/tiger
Why tiger landscapes need sustainable financing now: worldwildlife.org/stories/why-tiger-landscapes-need-sustainable-financing-now
Transformative Tigers: Nature’s Charismatic Climate Heroes: worldwildlife.org/stories/transformative-tigers-nature-s-charismatic-climate-heroes
WWF’s Dechen Dorji on keeping the spirit of the Year of the Tiger close to our hearts: worldwildlife.org/stories/wwf-s-dechen-dorji-on-keeping-the-spirit-of-the-year-of-the-tiger-close-to-our-hearts
---------------------
Chapters:
0:00 In this episode…
0:23 Welcome to Wildlife Café!
1:36 Crash course in the past 12 years of tiger conservation
4:34 What does the next 12 years look like for tigers?
6:30 Why is it important to keep pushing for tiger conservation?
8:00 How does protecting tigers also protect biodiversity writ large?
8:43 Tigers as cultural icons and how they inspire action
11:27 How do we ensure a sustainable future for tigers?
13:54 With the wave of a wand, what would Dechen change to help tigers?
17:01 Dechen’s experience seeing a tiger in the “wild”
