Tiger – Essay

The Tiger is a large and powerful animal. It is only being rivaled by the lion in terms of its power and ferocity. Tiger is also the national animal of India.

Throughout the world, the population of the tigers is endangered owing to the fact that the animal is hunted for its skin used as trophies and souvenirs

The tiger is commonly found in Asian countries such as China, Korea, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The Bengal Tigers comprise the largest portion of the total population of the tigers being more than half of the total number. In terms of size, the Siberian tiger is the largest weighing up to 660 pounds and stretching up to 4 meters in length.

Tiger’s habitat is defined by the fact that a tiger is an apex predator in its food chain. So the tiger likes a habitat that is close to a water body, with abundant vegetation to camouflage its movements. Also, it needs an abundance of other small animals like deer, zebra, etc. that it feeds on.

The tiger has adapted to different kinds of environments ranging from cold to moderate temperature areas. They have also adapted to Swampy areas, the Grasslands, as well as the Rainforests which offer the best living conditions for the Tigers since there is a high number of animals to prey on.

In most Asian countries the Tiger is usually portrayed in their Art. In some communities, the Tiger is worshiped owing to the aura that comes with the animal as well as its awe-inspiring character.

Tiger in mythology

Tiger is considered a symbol of various strong emotions in mythology. In Hindu mythology, the goddess Durga is shown to ride a tiger/tigress, as a symbol of power and victory. In Chinese mythology, the tiger is one of the 12 animals of Zodiac symbols, the tiger representing the earth.

Tigers in captivity

Tigers in captivity have been a concern for animal activist movements across the world for decades. Tigers are kept in Zoos and in Circuses for the entertainment of human beings. This is not a natural habitat of tigers and many activist movements consider this an injustice to the tiger population.

Tiger Conservation

Tigers have been hunted over centuries for various reasons by man; sometimes for pleasure, sometimes for egoistic reasons to prove their manhood, and at times for myths based on the medicinal value of their body parts. The tiger population is on the decline and needs to be conserved.

Conclusion

The tiger is an important animal, a national symbol and holds mythological significance. However, it is also endangered. There should be a combined effort from all stakeholders as well as government in ensuring the protection of this endangered species.