But what have we done with our national icon? We have killed more than 80% of them. By clearing forests without proper planning, we have deprived them of their homes. Hunting has decimated many. Now there are less than 500 tigers left in the wild. And if the current rate of habitat destruction and poaching continue, these remaining tigers will be wiped out rather soon (perhaps by year 2020 when we all can be proud and call ourselves a developed nation). We owe it to our children and their children to protect our tigers in the wild. Much needs to be learnt and much more needs to be done to protect them.
There are many organizations and dedicated individuals who are working very hard to raise awareness about the tiger, protect their habitats and to reduce poaching. But it is not enough. We need to reach out to more Malaysians.
This week from April 19th to April 23rd ia The Tiger Blogfest 2010 orgaized by Dr. Bala of Planet of the Monkeys. It is an avenue for the blogging community to contribute towards protecting our national heritage. A total of 107 bloggers are participating in this event.
The tiger is our national animal. Our heritage. But today only less than 500 of them
remain in the wild. As Malaysians, we need to stand up and protect our heritage.
Speak to your children. Speak to your leaders. Everyone of us can make a difference.
For further information, please visit MYCAT (www.malayantiger.net), WWF Malaysia
(www.wwf.org.my) and Department of Wildlife & National Parks (www.wildlife.gov.my)
Take a look at this video HERE which shows a snared tiger rescued in Belum-Temengor forest.
You can also check out this video HERE on Channel 4 news on tiger poachers at work.
Finally, in remembrance of the many tigers who were killed mercilessly all over the world, here's William Blake's The Tiger.
THE TIGER
By William Blake
1757-1827
TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Have a great day and remember the tigers today and tell your children about them!
By William Blake
1757-1827
TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Starmandala Glad you like William Blake too :-)