Handsome Sumatran Tiger (Photo source: Wikimedia Commons)
Look at this magnificent tiger. Shockingly there are less than 4000 left in the wild. We are in danger of losing tigers altogether within the next 5 years!
For this article I will concentrate on the Sumatran tiger but all types are on the endangered species list.
As far back as 1969 tiger numbers were so low that people realised they were at risk of extinction. Laws were made in several countries to protect tigers. This helped but since the 1980s tiger poaching has become a significant problem.
What Dangers Face Tigers?
To survive in the wild tigers need large areas (approx. 1000 sq km) where they won’t be disturbed by man. Habitat loss is only one of the significant threats to the endangered tiger’s survival. As with some other endangered species, large areas of the wilderness land where they live are rapidly becoming smaller because of deforestation plus human and industrial settlements expanding.
A Happy Tiger in the Natural Habitat (Picture source: Wikimedia Commons)
The other major danger, as already mentioned, is poaching. Poaching is not new as this old picture shows.
Old Photo of a Murdered Tiger (Photo source: Wikimedia Commons)
Horrible traps are used to catch the tigers so as not to damage the skin.
Ensnared Tiger Trapped by the Paw (Photo source: mitsu-tec-team.de)
Why are tigers poached?
Tigers are poached for their skins, heads and the medicinal properties some people believe are contained in tiger’s body parts.
Illegal Tiger Heads for Sale (Photo source: Flickr)
Of course it is all about the money that can be made from a dead tiger.
JoeProBono posted this information on 'Free Republic' site,
‘A dead adult male can sell for U.S. $10,000 or more on the black market. Tiger bones and penises are often used in traditional medicines, and some restaurants serve tiger meat.’
Here is a list of beliefs that are commonly held in some cultures:
- Tiger claws: used as a sedative for insomnia
- Teeth: used to treat fever
- Fat: used to treat leprosy and rheumatism
- Nose leather: used to treat superficial wounds such as bites
- Tiger bone: used as an anti-inflammatory drug to treat rheumatism and arthritis, general weakness, headaches, stiffness or paralysis in lower back and legs and dysentery
- Eyeballs: used to treat epilepsy and malaria
- Tail: used to treat skin diseases
- Bile: used to treat convulsions in children associated with meningitis
- Whiskers: used to treat toothaches
- Brain: used to treat laziness and pimples
- Penis: used in love potions such as tiger soup, as an aphrodisiac
- Dung or faeces: used to treat boils, hemorrhoids and cure alcoholism
All these ailments can be treated by conventional medicine.
What is being done to save the tiger?
Tiger Poacher Warning (Photo source: Flickr)
Patrols are helping to catch tiger poachers, however, the courts often deal leniently with them. At least it may prevent some poachers from being successful.
Zoos are implementing a species survival plan (SSP) worldwide, involving swapping animals to find the best breeding pair. Also some have gene pools. A large gene pool helps to breed healthy animals.
How Can You Help?
I hope this article has encouraged you to want to save the tiger. Here are some suggestions that you could do.
- Wherever possible, avoid palm oil products. The palm oil trees only live about 6 years then they are cut down destroying habitats
- Speak out against the poaching of tigers and the use of their body parts for medicinal or decorative purposes.
- Educate yourself on some of the major threats facing tigers today … then share this information with others.
- If you suspect mistreatment of captive tigers in your area, speak up!
- Join the 'Adopt a Tiger Campaign'. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) aims to double tiger numbers by 2022. For a small monthly donation you can support the tiger campaign. Here is the link:
- Write to government leaders to raise awareness of the plight of tigers.
- Become a Defender of Wildlife. Here is the link.
http://www.defenders.org/tiger/what-you-can-do
When people who care speak up we can save the tiger.
Please see also:
Endangered Species Part 1 - The White Rhino
https://steemit.com/whiterhino/@deemarshall/last-ditch-attempt-to-save-the-white-rhino-species-from-extinction-endangered-species-series-part-1
Endangered Species Part 2 - Hedgehogs
https://steemit.com/animal/@deemarshall/save-our-hedgehogs-endangered-species-series-part-2