Save Tigers Samhita Ramji, 4B

The tiger, is one of the most magnificent animals in the world, and is also one of the most endangered. A cat of beauty, strength, and majesty, the tiger is master of all and subject to none -- except humans. Of the eight original subspecies of tigers, three have become extinct within the last 60 years and they are the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers ; and there are less than 50 South China tigers left on this planet.

There are five different kinds or subspecies of tiger alive in the world today. These tigers are called Siberian, South China, Indochinese, Bengal, and Sumatran. Only about 5,000 to 7,400 tigers are left in the wild.

At the turn of the 20th century, India had 40,000 tigers in the wild. In 2002, there were 3,642 and today we are just left with 1,411 tigers, a number so small that they will be gone soon if we don’t wake up to the crisis.

Poachers are continuing to exterminate the world's remaining Tigers.There is demand for the skins, teeth and claws of tigers for medicinal purposes. Land is cleared for agriculture and forest fires threaten the existence of tigers.

Why Should We Save the Tiger? Saving the tiger means saving mankind..

Not only is tiger a beautiful animal but it is also the indicator of the forest's health. Saving the tiger means we save the forest since tiger cannot live in places where trees have vanished and in turn secure food and water for all.

If we make sure tigers live, we have to make sure that deer, antelope and all other animals that the tiger eats (its prey base) live. To make sure that these herbivores live, we must make sure that all the trees, grass and other plants that these prey animals need for food are protected. In this way, the whole forest gets saved! Saving the tiger means saving its entire forest kingdom with all the other animals in it.

Also forests catch and help store rainwater and protect soils. In this way we protect our rivers and recharge groundwater sources. Areas with less trees lead to floods, killing people and destroying homes. It takes away the precious soil, leaving behind a wasteland. The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their ability to store water. By destroying the tiger's home, we not only harm tigers, but also ourselves.

The tiger thus becomes the symbol for the protection of all species on our earth since it is

at the top of the food chain. This is why we sometimes call the tiger, an apex predator, an indicator of our ecosystem's health

When we protect one tiger, we protect about a 100 sq. km of area and thus save other species living in its habitat. Therefore, it’s not just about saving a beautiful animal. It is about making sure that we live a little longer, so that this planet can still be home to everyone.

What Needs to be Done to Save the Tiger? Create worldwide awareness that Tigers are an endangered species and work together to conserve.

Conserve resources and do not clear up land for agriculture because it endangers the Tiger’s habitat.

Ban poaching Increase fire protection of forests

Do You Think We Should Save Tigers????