In 1998, Weirum's fund made another small contribution to solve the lack of equipment problem by purchasing a dinghy to be used by Corbett authorities for anti-poaching patrols in remote waterways. While his modest efforts may go far, they may still be too late to save the tigers. While the world is certainly not unaware of the tiger's plight, poachers are still busy trying to meet the demands of a surging market for contraband tiger parts. Tiger skins have also been recovered. Ads for tiger penises, which are used in medicines said to cure male impotency, have also been seen recently in a Japanese mail order catalog, according to the Japan Wildlife Conservation Society.
Japan is also a major buyer of elephant tusks, used primarily for ivory carvings.
The world population of wild tigers is almost depleted, but some groups are making new efforts toward saving them against almost overwhelming odds. Click here for Terms of Use and Privacy Policy applicable to this site.