Teaming Up To Save Wild Tigers
Auburn University’s affection for tigers goes far beyond its lovable Aubie. The university has teamed up with Clemson University, Louisiana State University and the University of Missouri in the newly formed U.S. Tiger University Consortium, so named for the mascots that the institutions share. The schools are collaborating to help save wild tiger populations worldwide— fewer than 5,000 remain in 13 tiger-range countries.
“Wild tigers are at risk if we don’t plan well for the future. We will work together to preserve these magnificent animals through research and by educating students in India and America through university-supported academic scholarships and assistantships.”
- Retired Auburn Provost Timothy Boosinger
A Roaring Passion for Tigers is Born
Timothy and Marcia Boosinger, retired Auburn provost and assistant dean of AU Libraries, respectively, traveled to India to see the magnificent animals in the wild and to meet with members of the Global Tiger Forum, an international conservation group. They visited Kanha National Park/Tiger Reserve in central India and Jim Corbett National Park in northern India, also known for wild tigers. The result was the formation of the U.S. Tiger University Consortium, an idea formulated by Clemson President James Clements.
Read more about this storyResearch Collaboration
Since the consortium was established, Auburn has begun hosting graduate students from India who enroll in the Graduate School and work toward a doctorate in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. These students collaborate with other Indian graduate students at the Tiger University Consortium schools. To be considered, students must have a master’s degree in a related field, at least two years of professional experience in conservation in India and be currently employed with a conservation agency. Auburn plans to expand the program in the future to send its undergraduates to India for study abroad.
Tiger Population and Health Dynamics
Ecotourism and Community Development
Landscape Ecology and Planning
Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Habitat Management
Policy and Institutional Capacity Building
“Each of our institutions possesses various academic disciplines important to the future of tiger conservation and protection. This is an obvious example of the need for multidisciplinary contribution not just across colleges and departments but across universities.”
- Janaki Alavalapati, Emmett F. Thompson Dean of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment
Help Save Tigers
100% of your gift to Tigers United will support Auburn’s faculty and student efforts to protect wild tigers, including:
Research, outreach, and on-the-ground training in countries where tigers roam free
Support of student and faculty research to study wildlife management and conservation issues related to protecting the wild tiger
Advancement of science and technologies for the preservation of wild tigers in tiger range countries
More information is available by contacting Janaki Alavalapati, Emmett F. Thompson Dean of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, at ajanaki@auburn.edu.
