Happy World Tiger Day: The Importance of Saving Tigers!

We have lost 97% of our wild tigers this century. With as few as 3,200 remaining, action is needed to increase and strengthen their habitat and protect the species from major threats such as poaching.

The World Wildlife Fund and other experts say only around 3,200 tigers remain in the wild, and there were 100,000 tigers a century ago.

According to experts, tigers could disappear by 2022 — the next Chinese calendar year of the tiger — if no action is taken. Ironic isn't it? Why not do something about it? Some already are:

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved a law that sets jail terms of up to 12 years for deliberately killing tigers and other endangered animals in the South Asian country.

The wildlife protection law lays down different terms for killing different animals. According to a Hasina’s press secretary, the minimum jail term will be 2 years for killing crocodiles and pythons, and a maximum of 12 years for killing elephants and tigers.

A recent cabinet meeting also agreed to provide reparations to the families of victims killed or maimed by the animals that range between 100,000 taka ($1,415) and 50,000 taka. Each family will get 25,000 taka as compensation if wild animals destroy assets such as houses and crops.

Minimum 80 people, and about 15 tigers, have been killed across Bangladesh-controlled areas of the Sundarbans in last five years. Forests of Sundarbans, which stretch across the border with India, are currently home to only 400 tigers. Its southeastern Chittagong Hill Tracts have 300 elephants.

The World Bank is getting involved releasing in the next five years, the amount of $350 million for the cause.

For advocates, saving tigers has implications far beyond the emotional appeal of preserving a graceful and majestic animal.

"Wild tigers are not only a symbol of all that is splendid, mystical and powerful about nature," the Global Tiger Initiative said in a statement. "The loss of tigers and degradation of their ecosystems would inevitably result in a historic, cultural, spiritual, and environmental catastrophe for the tiger range countries."

Sad thing is three of the nine tiger subspecies — the Bali, Javan, and Caspian — already have become extinct in the past 70 years... THIS MUST STOP! WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION, OTHERWISE WE WILL LOSE "THE BIG CATS" FOR EVER! Now with a Cute Brands - Kung Fu Tiger™ shirt you can help the cause and promote the conservation of the tiger population!