The park had recently acquired two Amur tigers, which were relaxing nearby an impressive waterfall. We spent some time admiring the animals as they snoozed, and Charlotte snapped a couple of nice photos. The enclosure was surrounded by a wealth of information displays describing worldwide conservation efforts for the species.
I suspect I'm not alone when I say that sometimes, inevitably due to what feels like a constant barrage of charitable requests, whether coming from TV or the high street, I tend to tune out the details. It's become reduced to a vague notion that there are "millions of people" suffering in a foreign country, or that "billions of pounds" is needed to solve a world problem. Problems of immense scale, seemingly intractable and certainly difficult to fully comprehend. In contrast, two of the facts displayed on the wall of the tiger enclosure punched through the desensitisation.
1) There are only around 3200 tigers (all 5 species combined) alive in the wild today
2) Poachers in Asia kill around 300 wild tigers per year
For me, these numbers shine a bright light on what it really means to be an endangered species. Three thousand two hundred is a very small number. It's well within my ability to visualise 3200 tigers. And there are people who, in full knowledge of this number, care so little that they're willing to kill around 10% of the total population annually? Absolutely. Sickening.
And once again the reason that humans are systematically wiping out such a majestic and iconic animal? Irrational mumbo-jumbo Chinese traditional medicine, which believes that powdered tiger bone has regenerative properties. Even if this were true (and it's demonstrably not!), it would not be close to an excuse for the mass killing. Once this animal is gone, it won't be coming back, ever.
Maybe I'm being naive. Maybe you need to kill that tiger so you can earn the $50,000 it's reported to be worth on the black market in order to feed your family. Even if you were in that horrible, desperate situation, there would be alternatives. Somehow I doubt it's anything but pure profiteering though.
Until it manages to rise above all the superstitious nonsensical, harmful claptrap, I truly despair for humanity.
Thanks for reading. Now go here: Save Tigers Now
Mike
