The Promise of Earth Day for Tigers

Iconic species roam our planet, bringing harmony to our lives. Human beings live alongside elephants, gorillas, bears, wolves...the list goes on. And, of course, wild cats are among the most iconic animals which call Earth their home.  Forty species of cats fill the human imagination with wonder, especially the big cats — including the lion, jaguar and leopard. 

But one looms in our imagination, which is the biggest of them all. This is the tiger, a symbol of strength and power not only in its native Asia, but all around the world. But is this creature as safe in the wild as it is cherished in our hearts? As Earth Day approaches, we’re making a promise to protect it, and restore and renew our harmony with the world’s creatures. 

Today marks the beginning of two weeks leading up to Earth Day where we will showcase different cats and how Panthera is #WildAtHeart. Being #WildAtHeart means showing your love and support for cats, and dedicating yourself to protecting them. And what better cat to start with than one of the most revered yet also most persecuted cats in the world? There are only about 4,500 tigers left in the wild, a dangerous decrease from only a century ago. 

Why do we love tigers? Tigers are strong, capable big cats. They are the largest on average of all their cat cousins, and their habitat spans from chilly Siberia all the way to the tropics of southern India. They are powerful swimmers, and have been known to frolic in flooded mangrove forests. They capture the imagination with their hunting prowess, killing gaur (large bovines in southern Asia) which can weigh up to 3,000 lbs. 

Each tiger, each with its unique stripe pattern, is important to the Earth in its own unique way. But tigers are facing serious threats. Poaching for traditional medicine drives killings of these majestic creatures. When poachers kill a tiger, other animal and plant species suffer.  The Earth loses when tigers are lost. We become less #WildAtHeart when a tiger disappears forever. 

Now, as we quickly approach Earth Day, it is time to make the #TigerPromise. This means you will: 

• Help raise awareness about the crisis facing wild tigers by educating yourself and sharing factual, timely information with your friends and family;  
• Not buy or use products containing (or saying they contain) tiger or other wildlife parts, including Traditional Medicine like tiger plasters and tiger bone wine;  
• Not buy or use trinkets or decorative items made from tigers or illegally traded wildlife parts;  
• Refrain from using products containing unsustainable palm oil — a substance found in thousands of commonly used items that contributes to the wholesale destruction of wild cat habitat;  
• Not visit or support attractions that offer opportunities to handle wild cats, including petting and feeding, walking or taking photos with them;  
• When planning a zoo visit, look for local WAZA, EAZA, AZA and other accredited zoos that contribute to wild tiger conservation;  
• Wherever you live, vote for government representatives and legislation that protect endangered species;  
• Stand up for science!  
• If you are a U.S. citizen, let your Members of Congress know that you’d like them to support the Big Cat Public Safety Act; and  
• Contribute to organizations like Panthera that are protecting tigers in the wild and recovering their population. 

As Earth Day draws near, the Tiger Promise takes on heightened significance. If the planet is to be saved from destruction, we must start making promises to the world’s cat species. In fact, we must begin making promises to all the world’s animals, plant species and even microorganisms too small to see. And, most importantly, we must promise ourselves that we will become #WildAtHeart and stop at nothing to defend our Earth, our home. It is the only chance that wild cats and humans have. 

Please consider becoming #WildAtHeart and donating to Panthera today.