Tigers have long captured the human imagination, which is why they appear so frequently in everything from books and TV shows to theatre for preschoolers. Unfortunately, however, our fascination with these beautiful creatures has resulted in them being hunted extensively - in some cases to extinction. Until recently, there were nine subspecies of tiger walking the earth. Now, there are only six - and all of these are considered endangered or critically endangered. This means they’re at risk of becoming extinct. Here, we outline the living and extinct tiger species, and where they are (or were) found. 

Amur tigers

Also known as Siberian tigers, this subspecies was on the brink of extinction in the 1940s. However, thanks to conservation efforts, there are now around 400-500 in the wild, living across the Russian Far East and northeastern China.

Bengal tigers

Bengal tigers are the most numerous of the subspecies, but there are still only an estimated 3,500 left in the wild. They are mostly found in India, with small populations in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Nepal has been working hard to increase its tiger population, with some 400 individuals living there now. 

South China tigers

As its name suggests, this tiger once roamed across a vast area of central and southern China, in the provinces of Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong. As recently as the 1950s there were over 4,000 in the wild, but now they are considered extinct there, with only around 100 animals surviving in captivity. 

Indochinese tigers

Indochinese tigers used to be found all over southeast Asia, from Thailand and Myanmar to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Now, however, there are only a few breeding populations left, in Thailand and Myanmar. They number about 220-250 individuals. 

Sumatran tigers

Sumatran tigers live exclusively on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. There are estimated to be 400-600 remaining in the wild, and they are the only island tiger subspecies left. 

Malayan tigers

Recent population counts estimate there are less than 150 Malayan tigers living on the Malay peninsula in southeast Asia. This is a significant decline compared to the 3,000 animals that were thought to live there in the 1950s. 

Caspian tigers

Caspian tigers once had a huge home range, wandering from eastern Turkey, Iran and Iraq through central Asian nations like Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan into the Xinjiang region of northwest China. They were officially classified as extinct in 2003. 

Bali tigers

Like Sumatran tigers, Bali tigers were an island population exclusive to Bali in Indonesia. They were functionally extinct by the 1950s and declared officially extinct in 2008. 

Javan tigers

Javan tigers lived exclusively on the island of Java in Indonesia. The last confirmed sighting of one was in 1976 and they were officially listed as extinct in 2008 by the IUCN. 

See The Tiger Who Came to Tea

If you’re looking for theatre shows for under 5s don’t miss The Tiger Who Came to Tea theatre show in London this summer. Playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 5 September 2026, it’s a production aimed at kids aged three and up, full of songs, dancing and magic. Book your tickets today and enjoy roarsome entertainment for the whole family.