This species is viewed differently across different cultures.
In parts of Asia the tiger is viewed as a good to be hunted and sold.
Tiger parts can be priced to as much as $50,000 on the black market,
which makes poaching of these animals very enticing. Certain parts of the
tiger are believed to give good luck, and other parts are used as symbols of
status and wealth. Tigers are also being bred on a commercial scale, and
most of these tigers end up being sold on the black market as well. In
western countries, like the United States, we house tigers in zoos, rescue
centers, and even in our own back yards. Tigers are seen as an amusement,
yet still dangerous and to be cautious of. We use them as school and team
mascots because we regard them as fierce and powerful. Some people express
their wealth by buying a tiger for show, and others simply enjoy tigers enough
to keep them as pets. Tigers are even used for entertainment because they
are so exotic. There are tigers involved in circus acts, and used in
shows in Vegas, for example. We have a
mix between fear and amazement when we regard tigers in captivity and in the
wild. There are also movements all over
the world to save the dwindling tiger population. The WWF’s, for example, wants to double the
number of tigers in the wild within the next 10 years. They want to end a demand for tiger parts,
and enforce more laws banning tiger products.
They are also fighting to protect tiger habitats, and continue more research
on tiger wildlife. There are some
negative views on tigers, like poachers who think they are something to be
hunted and nothing else, but the overall perceptions of tigers are generally
good ones, people love seeing them, and want to save them.
Sources: http://www.savetigersnow.org/problem, http://www.savetigersnow.org/solutions
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