Sarah Christie, Conservation Programme Manager, Zoological Society of London explains why every child should grow up remembering the day that they looked a tiger in the eye.
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The SOS call aims to increase the
public's awareness of the plight of the tiger,
specifically that of the
critically-endangered Sumatran tiger Photo: PA
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Tigers are now close to extinction. If we want this magnificent beast to still roam the jungles in 2050, we have to act fast. And it is important that we do, because saving the tiger is much more than just saving a species.
Tigers are a “flagship”, a hugely powerful icon of the wild; nobody is immune, whether your primary reaction is awe and wonder or outright fear.
And tigers are also an “umbrella” – in protecting a viable population of tigers, you effectively also protect not only thousands of other species living in the same forest, but also the “ecosystem services” – carbon storage, watersheds, stopping soil erosion – that not just wildlife but also humans desperately need for our long-term survival. Suddenly, we’re talking about more than just tigers; we’re talking Save the Tiger, and Save the Planet too.
Tigers are a “flagship”, a hugely powerful icon of the wild; nobody is immune, whether your primary reaction is awe and wonder or outright fear.
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| Sarah Christie, ZSL Conservation Programme Manager |
The Zoological Society of London's unique approach to saving the Sumatran tiger, the subject of our Tiger SOS campaign, can be outlined in three steps. First, stop the killing. Second, save the habitat.
And third, make it sustainable. Our “Wildlife Crime Units” in Indonesia are on the front line, tackling the poaching on the ground.
Our “Tiger Corridors Team” are working with government and industry to plan development, enabling Indonesia’s people to progress to modern lifestyles without destroying their forests; and our “Tiger Friendly Carbon Trading” project will make the whole thing sustainable.
By stopping carbon emissions from illegal logging and burning, carbon credits can be sold on the international market, providing funds for park protection, community benefits, and government income. Everybody wins!
First, stop the killing.
Second, save the habitat.
And third, make it sustainable.
And all of this will be directly linked to our new Tiger Conservation HQ in central London.
The exhibit will not only be a state-of-the-art Ambassadorial residence for Sumatran tigers and part of the global conservation breeding programme coordinated by ZSL, it will also help to provide the sustainability part of the solution, by generating funds and by continuing to inspire future generations.
It is too easy in the modern world to lose all sense of connection with nature, but come face to face with a Sumatran tiger in our Indonesian tropical forest and you will suddenly remember that you are a mere human and that other creatures have a right to live on earth too.
Our tigers will connect with every visiting child – they may not grow up to be conservationists, but instead be politicians, movie stars or even (perish the thought) bankers; but they will grow up remembering the day that they looked a tiger in the eye, and just maybe that will change their adult lives.
(www.telegraph.co.uk)
