The day aims to raise awareness about tiger conservation and the protection of their habitats.
The day was established in 2010 at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit (Russia), where 13 tiger-range countries, including India, launched the Tx2 Goal to double the global wild tiger population.
Tigers are apex predators and a keystone species that help maintain healthy forest ecosystems; they are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
India is home to about 75% of the world's wild tigers and launched Project Tiger in 1973 to protect tigers and curb poaching.
The theme for the year 2026 is "Securing the Future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Heart."