Research overview: evidence for tiger recovery through prey and protection

Several reserves have demonstrated that tigers can recover when prey is restored and protection is rigorous. This overview synthesizes case studies in which intensified anti-poaching, recovery of ungulate populations, and the relocation of human settlements out of cores led to measurable increases in tiger density tracked by camera-trap monitoring. It reviews the common ingredients of success, including secure breeding cores, abundant prey, and connectivity for dispersal, and contrasts them with the conditions that drive declines. The synthesis offers an evidence-based picture of what works in tiger conservation. For those following the species it explains why some landscapes have seen tigers rebound while others continue to lose them, and why the combination of protecting the cats, recovering their prey, and securing space for dispersal is the reliable formula behind documented recoveries.