Formal writing

30/10/17

There were once nine species of tigers, now there are about six surviving subspecies. Tigers range from threatened to critically endangered and all subspecies are on the “red list”. But why should we care if they go extinct?

Poaching is a huge problem for this endangered species and it will continue to be a problem if we don’t make the consequences of killing a tiger more intense than what it already is. In 2012, a Russian man was convicted of killing an Amur Tiger which is endangered. He was only sentenced to 14 months disciplinary labor and a fine up to $18,500 USD. The World Wildlife Funds and their partner, TRAFFIC: The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, are campaigning that there should be better protection laws for the tigers and stronger punishments for those who hunt these beautiful creatures. These harsher punishments will benefit the life of tigers and will decrease the number of deaths in the tiger population.

Poachers hunt the tigers for their pelts and bones because they can sell for up to $20,000. In some cases, the bones are steeped in liquid and sold as ‘Tiger Wine for roughly $30,000 a case. Because of this, tigers are worth more when dead rather than alive. Over the past century, three subspecies have gone extinct and currently, the South China Tiger has been considered functionally extinct because no one has seen them in years. Prices for tiger parts continue to increase. The Tigers are a part of a massive wildlife league and are hunted by the same people who hunt elephants and rhinos. It is very rare that it is the locals who take out these animals, it is organized gangs and international crime affiliates and they earn $19 billion dollars each year.

You could argue that tiger parts are useful in some ways, for example, medicines. Tiger parts are said to cure and prevent diseases such as Malaria and cases like ulcers, typhoid and rheumatism and even burns. But those are all curable with antibiotics, fluids, and creams and if treated correctly and straightaway then Malaria can be cured as well. So why do people need to hunt tigers to cure these already curable diseases and disorders? Despite the fact that tiger medicines are illegal, it does not stop those who want to buy these remedies from doing so. These traditional Chinese medicines are sold on the black market and in medical markets. This needs to stop immediately because tiger rates are dropping rapidly.

Fifty years ago, the number of tigers in the wild were around 25,000-30,000 individuals. That number has dropped drastically and today, there are only about 3,000 remaining tigers in the wild. Although there are more tigers in captivity, the number of tigers left is dropping and will continue until there are no more tigers in the wild. The authorities need to do something about those who poach tigers for medicine and money. We can not get this species back if they go extinct. So what will you do to help?