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The Tiger or Patheris Tigris features greatly in oriental folklore and mythology. Indeed the tiger is Asian nation’s national animal and features in the Chinese Zodiac. The animal features in films, on flags and coats of arms. In Literature A. A Milne writes about a friendly tiger called Tigger, and in contrast there is Rudyard Kipling’s fierce predator Shere Khan. Tony the tiger features on Kellogg’s frosted flakes. Animal Planet claims that a survey showed the tiger as the world’s favourite animal.
It is ironic then that the tiger is on the critically endangered list. Since the 1900s much habitat of the tiger has been lost and poachers have hunted down the animals. Of the eight original sub species three have become extinct in the last sixty years.
- The last Bali tiger is reported to have been killed in Sumbar Kima in 1937
- Thee last confirmed sighting of the Javanese tiger was 1979
- The Caspian Tiger became extinct in the 1950s.
Of the remaining subspecies there is the Sumatran tiger, the Siberian tiger and the South China tiger.
The decline of the tiger is due to a number of factors, namely poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding. Poachers poison watering holes and set steel snares to kill tigers. Parts of the tiger are considered valuable in Chinese medicine as they are believed to be an aphrodisiac. In Singapore and Taiwan a soup containing tiger penis would sell for $5,700 and dried tiger penis would sell for $2,500. The complete genitalia is also soaked in wine for long periods and then drunk before bed.
The sale of tiger related products has been illegal in China since 1993 (excluding Tibet) but the illegal trade continues.
Talisman made out of tiger claw are believed to have supernatural powers. Tiger bone, eye, liver and fat are used in medicine.
Much of tiger’s natural forest habitat has been cut down and a decline in numbers leads to inbreeding which means cubs have life threatening defects.
Tigers have always been kept as pets, adding glamour to any Royal court. Today they are still kept as private pets and it is estimated that 12,000 are in America, approx. 4, 00 in Texas.
A ray of hope
Tiger temple or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua in the Kanchanaburi province, Thailand was opened in 1994. The temple rescues tigers and takes care of them. Tourists can visit the tigers that are tame.
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