Wild Tigers Battle Extinction
By: Amy Willis

DOOMED!! That is what Time Magazine stated about the wild tiger in its March 28th, 1994 issue. Coming from an area without many dangerous and fantastic animals, most of what you probably don't know that the wild tiger is on the verge of extinction. In fact, three species of the tiger are already extinct. The Caspian Tiger became extinct in the 1970's, the Bali Tiger became extinct in the 1940's, and the Japn Tiger became extinct in the 1980's. Conservationists have tried to do many things to protect this great cat. Despite their efforts, the tigers still seem to be disappearing. In Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, eighteen tigers were killed even though sixty guards were watching the area. The tigers are killed for their pelts and also for medicine. A tiger pelt may bring in as much as $15,000. The tiger bones and other body parts are used for traditional medicines. To hunt these great creatures, some people use high powered rifles and shotguns. Others sprinkle poison on the animals that the tigers have temporarily left the ground. Today, no more than 5,000 to 7,500 of these carnivores remain on this planet. This is a decline of almost 95% int his century. Even though efforts are being made to save this great creation of God, poachers may still find a way to kill them and sell them on the black market. Soon, the only tigers we may see will be in zoos. Even after that, we may only see them in history books and dreams. "When you see a tiger, it is always like a dream," stated the Indian biologist Ullas Karanth of New York's Wildlife Conservation Society. "All too soon, dreams may be the only place where tigers roam freely," said Time Magazine. Is it too late to help the tiger? Is there anything we can do to help? If nothing is done soon, we will eventually be reading our kids books about cavemen, dinosaurs, and…….the tiger.