12 years ago, there was a very real risk that tigers would become extinct in the wild, however, we are finally seeing their numbers increase across their range in Asia thanks to coordinated and concerted conservation efforts, but they're not out of the woods yet.

In honour of Year of the Tiger in the lunar calendar which begins on February 1st WildCats Conservation Alliance are dropping this Pawcast dedicated to tigers. On the last Year of the Tiger in 2010, leaders of the 13 tiger range countries assembled at an International Tiger Forum to set out the Global Tiger Recovery Program. Their overarching goal was to double the number of wild tigers across their geographical area by the next Year of the Tiger in 2022.

That is where this series comes in. To celebrate this monumental year for tiger conservation WildCats delve into current issues affecting the preservation of this majestic species. In each episode, you'll meet with experts from around the world working to save wild tigers and their habitats and take a deeper dive into the threats and solutions affecting the future of the species.

From deforestation to climate change, illegal wildlife trade to human-tiger conflict, WildCats will be exploring a different key issue in every episode.

Join the conversation on social media by searching for 'Conserve WildCats' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And make sure you subscribe to WildCats Pawcast wherever you get your podcasts so that you never miss an episode.