In a field often dominated by news of felled forests and population declines, tigers have delivered a bit of holiday cheer.
Wildlife conservationists report populations on the upswing in protected areas of India, Russia and Thailand.
Despite dangerously low global numbers, tigers are rebounding in three significant landscapes, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, fostering hope for these iconic big cats.
What accounts for these positive developments? Better law enforcement, habitat protection, and crucial partnerships with governments.
(READ the story in the New York Times)