Richmond Football Club’s recently launched Tiger Conservation Membership is helping wild tigers to flourish in their natural habitat.
The inaugural conservation membership is seeing direct results throughout Malaysia and Southeast Asia where tigers are most under threat.
Richmond is hoping to reach a landmark 600 Tiger Conservation memberships by World Tiger Day next month, with each helping the outlook for wild tigers to look brighter.
Funds from the membership directly employ indigenous community members in Malaysia who work with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) to patrol the Royal Belum State Park disrupting poachers' activity, destroying tiger snares, and monitoring the area for tigers.
These efforts have proven to be effective in impacting the snaring crisis in Southeast Asia.
Since 2018, WWF-Malaysia has successfully been able to flood at-risk areas with patrol teams, including a rapid expansion from 2-3 teams to an imposing 15.
A group of Richmond Coterie members have funded a Tiger Patrol Unit, now in its second year in the region and recent reports showed no active snares within the jurisdiction.
Richmond has been shining a light on Tiger conservation for the past four years with Premiership stars and tiger ambassadors Nick Vlastuin, Jack Graham and Toby Nankervis visiting Sumatra and Central India to witness first-hand how successful tiger conservation can be achieved.
Tiger populations are now stable or increasing in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia and China. An estimated 3,900 tigers remain in the wild, but much more work is needed to protect this species if they are to secure their future in the wild.
Nick Vlastuin was optimistic after his last trip to India.
“To see these creatures in the wild is an incredible experience and to witness the work being done to protect tigers gives you great hope that we can not only protect tigers in the wild but start to see an increase in the wild tiger population,” he said.
“Success can be achieved with the help of our members and fans directly contributing to help find a solution.”
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale was proud of how Richmond fans had already embraced tiger conservation.
“The tiger is an iconic animal special to our Club. For the past four years Richmond members, fans, players and staff have shown a great passion for protecting tiger numbers,” he said.
“It has been a privilege to help raise awareness, funds and conservation projects to help protect tigers in the world.”
The membership also includes a Tiger plush toy, access to a Richmond home game and access to a members exclusive web page with competitions, updates from the Patrol Unit, and Tiger facts.
To help us save Tigers, please visit here.
