The (Last) Year of the Tiger?

ATTN: Feature Editors

LEICESTER, England, February 9 - February sees the Chinese celebrating their New Year and in
the Chinese Zodiac 2010 falls in the Year of the Tiger. Many wildlife species
are endangered, but it is now thought that the Wild Tiger is one of the most
critically endangered of all. In the 20th century three of the eight
sub-species of tiger became extinct; the Balinese in 1937, the Caspian in the
1950's and most recently the Javan in the 1980's. The five remaining
sub-species are all critically endangered - these are the Siberian, largest
of the tigers, the Bengal, the Sumatran, the Indo-Chinese and the South China
tiger. The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of the sub-species and the South
China Tiger is closest to extinction, it is believed there may only be 10 in
the wild. Although tiger derivatives are totally illegal and it has never
been proven medically, tiger parts raise significant amounts of money because
many Chinese believe they can cure certain ailments. Because of this and
their increasing awareness of the need to conserve their wildlife, China has
recently made changes to their animal welfare legislation and tightened their
laws on the illegal hunting, trapping and farming of wild tigers.

"The eyes of the tiger are the brightest of any animal on earth. They
blaze back the ambient light with awe-inspiring intensity. It would be a
tragedy, and a terrible dereliction of duty, if we allowed that magical fire
to burn out" - Billy Arjan Singh, Indian hunter turned conservationist

The critical decline of the wild tiger is not just happening
in China; it is an Asian issue. A villager in India can earn double their
yearly wage by killing a tiger. It is not surprising that these animals are
so readily poached and exploited when an undamaged tiger skin can fetch
between GBP6000 and GBP8000. Due to loss of habitat, intense exploitation,
lack of conservation and political will, an international population of
100,000 in 1900 is now thought to have dwindled to around just 3,500 left in
the wild, leaving a dangerously low gene pool with which to try and increase
tiger numbers. We are losing a tiger a day in the wild. Latest figures
suggest that India has around 1,200, Russia approximately 350, Sumatra about
350 and the Indo -tiger around 1,200. That is it!

De-forestation, trophy hunting, poaching (and human poverty)
have ground away at the tiger's place in the world so that, today, very
little of it remains. The imminent and total extinction from the wild of this
most noble of creatures is perilously close.

In the Forests of the Night

Tiger and man do not live comfortably together because both
man and tiger are at the top of their particular food chain and man is the
tiger's only predator. The tiger shies naturally away from humans and is a
solitary creature. It is also highly territorial and can be very ferocious.
Sadly it is the tiger's fearsome reputation that goes before it and it is
true to say that on occasions, a tiger will attack humans, but this is
normally due to lack of prey and clashes of living area. Tigers are renowned
for their power and strength and ability to floor their prey with one leap
and a bite to the neck. Because a tiger will always attack from behind, local
people have been known to wear masks on the back of their heads when out in
the forest in the Sundarbans.

Because tigers are typically shy and solitary, scientists and
conservationists can really only speculate on the actual numbers still left
in the wild, but they all agree that - without concerted and immediate effort
- we are likely to see the total extinction of the wild tiger within 10
years. The Chinese zodiac runs in twelve year cycles, meaning that 2010 could
well turn out to be the very last year of the Tiger where these magnificent
animals still existed in the wild.

"It would be a sad day if the only one could seea tiger is in
a zoe" Phil Davis - Tiger Awareness.

Helping the Wild Tiger

There are several tiger conservation and protection programs
already in place working to save this species from extinction.

Individuals can help by raising awareness of the critical
situation that tigers are facing and by supporting tiger conservation
organizations such as those listed below. Another option is to adopt a tiger
or make a donation of what you can afford to the tiger project of your
choice. You can also contribute by organising your own fund raisers and by
educating others and encouraging them to help this cause as well. My wish for
2010 - the year of the Tiger - is that this most regal of big cats (the
largest cat of all) remains with us for a long, long time, I, for one,
sincerely hope it is not too late to save them.

The International Tiger Coalition - www.endtigertrade.org

An alliance of more than 35 organisations united under the common aim of
stopping the trade in tiger parts and products, from any source.

Tiger Awareness - www.tigerawareness.co.uk

A registered charity working directly with local organizations in India,
at ground level, where the funds are most needed and given directly by them.

Tiger Watch - www.tigerwatch.net

Based in India, Tiger Watch is doing an excellent job in rehabilitating
tribal hunting families in Ranthambhore, India. They are successfully
reducing poaching in the area with their work.

Tiger photograph courtesy of Michael J. Vickers

www.tigersintheforest.co.uk.

Note to editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

For further information, interviews, articles - please contact: Phil Davis - Tiger Awareness - +44(0)1455-447-315; To contact Sally Morningstar- freelance writer: +44(0)1458-830742, +44(0)7962-437353, sally.morningstar at btinternet.com