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Britons believe tiger numbers are six times bigger than they really are, as campaigners warn species is at 'tipping point'

There are as few as 3,200 tigers in the wild but a poll discovered Britons thought there were about 17,000 of the big cats

Britons believe tiger numbers are six times bigger than they really are, as campaigners warn species is at 'tipping point'

Britons believe there are six times more than the real number of tigers remaining in the wild, a survey has found.

Despite numbers falling by more than 95 per cent since the start of the twentieth century, the nation remains massively uninformed.

There are as few as 3,200 tigers in the wild but the poll - to mark World Tiger Day - discovered Britons thought there were about 17,000 of the big cats.

Campaigners say the number is at 'tipping point' and without urgent support today's children could grow up in a world where wild tigers barely exist.


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When children were asked how they would feel if tigers became extinct tomorrow, 41 per cent stated they would be angry that people did not do enough to save them.

A further one in five children stated they would give up their pocket money to help protect tigers from extinction and almost half (42 per cent) of children thought looking after the endangered species was equally important as looking after domestic cats.

Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of adults echoed the view.


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The research, taken from 1,000 adults and 500 children across the UK, marks the launch of a partnership between conservation experts WWF and Whiskas.

The partnership aims to raise vital funds for WWF's 'Tigers Alive' conservation programme - which aims to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 - through sales of special packs of its partner's food.

Money raised during the summer will have a particular focus on the WWF's daily work in the Terai Arc region of Nepal, one of the few remaining strongholds, which is home to around 120 adult tigers.


David Nussbaum, chief executive, of WWF-UK, said: 'Wild tigers are at a tipping point and action, or inaction, in the coming decade will decide their fate.

'This is why initiatives such as our partnership with Whiskas are so important, providing another way for people to get involved and support WWF's ambitious goal to double tiger numbers in the wild by 2022.'

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