Why can’t we save the tiger?
Featured July 3, 2008 on CNN’s iReport thanks to Big Cat Rescuer, Brian Czarnik
*THE TIGER (Report) *Dedicated to those guards who put their life on the line for low pay to protect the tiger and its habitat.
Total CAPTIVE tiger numbers= 10,000 +/- in various situations in the US. (most are Amur/Bengal mixed)
+ 4,000+/- in tiger farms in China.
Tiger numbers in the WILD:
(based on the most recent and factual data I could find)
BENGAL TIGER= 1,300-1,500 (S.Asia: India) Low numbers due to loss of habitat with population boom, need for agriculture, illegal hunting, and poor protection.
AMUR/ SIBERIAN TIGER= 400-500 (E. Asia: Russia, N.E. China) Low numbers due to illegal hunting in vast unprotected habitat as well legal hunting killing off their natural prey. Logging companies (some mafia influenced, clearing forest)
INDOCHINESE TIGER= 700-1,200 (S.E. Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia) Low numbers due to fragmented habitat, devastation of forest for palm oil production, illegal hunting and poor protection.
SUMATRAN TIGER= 250-300 (W. Indonesia: Sumatra) Low numbers due to loss of habitat, illegal hunting and poor protection.
MALAYAN TIGER= 400-600 (S.E. Asia: Malaysia, Thailand) *decleared a separate subspecies from the Indochinese tiger in 2004. Low numbers due to loss of habitat from logging and agriculture.
SOUTH CHINA TIGER= 10? (S.China) declared extinct in 2003. (One photo recently taken is being called a hoax.) Low numbers due to China’s waiting until 1977 to outlaw hunting. No protection from illegal hunting. Loss of habitat.
(a captive born male S. China tiger was born 11-23-07 in Africa)
WHAT I THINK WILL SAVE THE WILD TIGER:
Letting U.S. corporations know that we want to be aware where our resources like Palm Oil come from. Our government letting China know we are unhappy with their wildlife policies (namely tiger parts used in traditional medicine) and poor protection of their endangered animals.
Better protection for the tigers in their native habitats and their prey species by properly arming and funding the anti-poaching units, and better regulations allowing them to search for illegal trade. Less corrupt local governments to allow the people a chance at an economy that doesn’t rely on illegal trade or over farming the land.
More funding being sent over, possibly a tiger tax on all that own/exhibit tigers to go towards their conservation.
For more info:
http://www.wildasia.net/
http://www.iucn.org/
http://www.cawtglobal.org/
http://www.wpsi-india.org/
http://www.tigertrust.info/
http://www.defenders.org/
http://www.savethetigerfund.org/
http://www.wwf.org/
Please check out my other CNN wildlife videos.
-Brian’s Art for Animals is an effort using photos and videos to help raise awareness and funds for those on the front lines of wildlife conservation
http://www.bcprints.com/
*All tiger footage filmed at Big Cat Rescue, 12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625 813.920.4130 Info@bigcatrescue.org
Comments found on CNN:
Thanks for this, it is indeed a good coverage on the issue.”
Sujoy Banerjee
Director -Conservation Programme WWF-INDIA
“Your video is great.”- Wong Jim Fong WILD ASIA
“Many thanks, It is the support of people like you that makes us battle on in these critical times for wildlife. Videos like yours can help spread awareness – the key to putting governments under pressure and changing policies.”
Ritu Khanna WILDLIFE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF INDIA.
Original posting at:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-42200?ref=feeds%2Fnewsiest
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