Tiger "Assistance"

What’s really going on with tigers?

I’ve recently found more disturbing news on the tiger situation, and honestly I’m seething with anger simply reading about the new atrocities being thought of by capitalists claiming to be trying to “save the tigers.” I believe this is new but It could just be
my first time hearing about it, but apparently there has been talk of establishing tiger farms. Yes…tigers would be bred and raised and then “culled” for their body parts.

Culled – to collect, gather, or pluck.

Yes…tigers are now akin to chickens, pigs, and cows… I am completely outraged. Their plan is not to stop killing the tigers…but to build establishments where the sole purpose is to grow and kill tigers, saying that it will “reduce the pressure on wild tigers from poaching,” says Terry Anderson the executive director of Property and Environment Research Center, a non-governmental organization that looks at market based approaches to conservation. Basically, they want to make money…which is obviously the problem we’re having now.

I guess this is what capital conservationist call good living, I mean their going to be slaughtered anyway right?

This idea was brought up by, who else but, owners of China’s tiger breeding centers that have remained open as tourists attractions since China banned the trade of tiger parts in 1993.

Anderson states that,”there are ways to capitalize on the value of these animals and conserve them.” Why must these animals hold monetary value? Why can’t they be left alone? Why must humans always make money even if it come to butchering an innocent animal for its skin and genitalia alone? Breeding centers have been pushing for the legalization of tiger farms, but thank goodness there is some right minded man at the top of the ladder, Keshav Varma, who believes that this is honestly just not worth it. He states "too great a gamble for the world to take. We cannot know for sure if tiger farming will work. And if it does not work the downside risks are just too high-- irreversible harm." He’s right, we can’t be sure that just because we have a market for tigers that the poaching will stop. It could increase poaching and the theft of tigers from the wild to produce more product to be sold. My hat is off you sir. Please keep fighting the good fight. If you’d like to know more about the tiger trade and farming operations please visit http://www.endtigertrade.org . It has a plethora of information about this latest development and the illegal tiger trade in general.

What’s really being done to save the tigers?

Now that I’m beyond all the farfetched plans to supposedly save the tigers, let’s get to some actual initiative. Jackie Chan is the current spokes person for WildAid and the tigers, the equal to Yao Ming and his sharks.

Jackie Chan is a bit more talkative that Ming, and even though he’s a bit pressed on his English skills he gets his point across. The idea to use Jackie Chan seems like genius to me seeing as he is one of the most popular movie and kung fu icons to ever hit the big screen, and is known internationally. So although we know his English isn’t as pristine as it could be he’s a face we all know, love, and through much practice understand.

Just thought I’d add one more video, just because it’s so cool.

Other than these videos, and trust me there are plenty of videos to go around, there has already been a ban on illicit tiger products in China that I mentioned earlier that has dramatically reduced the pressure on wild tiger populations in the area. WildAid has also joined a coalition of 35 environmental, zoo and animal protection groups and created a four minute video to persuade China to continue to support the fight for tigers by not lifting the ban on the trade of tiger product. WildAid’s president Steve Trent believes that it is pertinent that this ban stay active stating,” If China lifts its ban, it will make it open season on tigers in the wild..... By keeping the ban, China will demonstrate its continued commitment and global leadership for tiger conservation." Even though there are still poachers preying on tigers in the wild, keeping this ban is a major step in being able to prosecute those caught breaking the law and trading illegal tiger products. The higher risk could be a great way to dissuade many poachers out of the business.