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The wild tiger population is less than 4 percent of what it was a century ago, and leaders in 13 nations are taking a stand against the poaching and habitat destruction that have decimated the majestic predators' numbers.

This time around, actions will speak louder than words, they say.

With the conclusion of a high-profile summit, attracting guests as notable as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, governments and conservation groups pledged $327 million with the goal of doubling the wild tiger population by 2022.

The four-day International Forum on Tiger Conservation, which ended Wednesday, was billed as a last chance for the wild tiger, Its numbers have dropped from 100,000 to 3,600 over the past 100 years.

Poaching, illegal trade and habitat destruction have forced the animal to the brink of extinction, according to the Global Tiger Initiative, which estimates that wild tigers exist today in less than 7 percent of their historic range.

"I am confident that we will look back on this day as a turning point in the effort to save one of the world's best-loved animals," World Wildlife Fund Director Jim Leape said.

The St. Petersburg, Russia, summit featured leaders from all 13 countries where tigers still live in the wild: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

It also enjoyed some celebrity backing as DiCaprio not only attended the summit, he committed $1 million to the cause.

"Illegal poaching of tigers for their parts and massive habitat loss due to palm oil, timber and paper production are driving this species to extinction," the actor said in a statement. "If we don't take action now, one of the most iconic animals on our planet could be gone in just a few decades. By saving tigers, we can also protect some of our last remaining ancient forests and improve the lives of indigenous communities."

While a substantial portion of the funding comes from the so-called tiger countries, the international community provided the majority of the money. The WWF, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Bank have pledged a collective $200 million.

"The lineup of international support is critical. Poorer tiger range countries face different challenges. Some countries just can't afford it, and at the end of the day, you cannot save tigers unless you protect them," said Barney Long, head of the WWF's Tiger Program in the U.S.

Michael Baltzer, of the fund's Tigers Alive Initiative, said the effort depends heavily on wealthier nations doing their part.

"We hope rich countries will mirror our funding efforts, or ultimately we're going to keep losing tigers," he said.

Among the richer nations already promising contributions are Germany, which has pledged an additional $17.2 million, and the U.S., which will donate $9.2 million to tiger conservation efforts.

Experts say an additional $350 million is needed from the international community to protect and monitor the last remaining habitats for tigers.

Even as the summit was coming to a close, the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported that yet another tiger had been poisoned in north India. It was the third tiger slain in two weeks, according to the group.

Estimated Wile Tiger Populations

Bangladesh: 440
Bhutan: 75
Cambodia: 20
China: 45
India: 1,411
Indonesia: 325
Laos: 17
Malaysia: 500
Myanmar: 85
Nepal: 155
Russia: 400
Thailand: 200
Vietnam: 10

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How much would it cost to save tigers from extinction in the wild? Thirty-five million more dollars a year.

Some perspective on this amount: Thirty-five million dollars is less than soccer star David Beckham earns annually. Surely, a world that sustains great athletes with princely sums can also afford to save this princely beast.

The Wildlife Conservation Society and its partners in big cat conservation have devised a strategy that offers the summit a practical plan of action to reverse the decline of tigers and put the population on a course for recovery. (This is where the $35 million comes in; more on that in a moment.)

This fall, the Wildlife Conservation Society published a peer-reviewed study identifying 42 "source sites" across the natural range of tigers in Asia, where viable populations of breeding tigers now exist.

The study suggests that managing and financing activities like law enforcement and training in these breeding areas will protect tiger populations and allow them to repopulate larger landscapes.

Implementing this plan would be straightforward. Instead of spreading conservation efforts thinly across large landscapes, the focus would shift to source sites. These are where 70 percent of the world's tigers live in just 6 percent of their current range. For example, there are 18 source sites in India, eight in Indonesia, six in Russia, three in both Malaysia and Nepal, two in Thailand and one in both Laos and Bangladesh. Protecting these sites would halt the decline in tigers and allow populations to recover.

Can it be done? In fact, something similar is being done in southwest India in one of the most densely populated places on earth. In the Western Ghats of Karnataka sits Nagarahole National Park, where the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Indian government and local communities have worked together for 20 years, joining first-rate science to public action.

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