The tiger's inherent majesty, strength and virility have contributed to its destruction as value, demand and ignorance have made law enforcement efforts difficult. Today, as human populations continue to grow, people compete more and more with tigers for land and food. Trying to reverse this trend, global organisations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society , World Wildlife Fund and the David Shepherd Conservation Foundation to name but a few have embarked on ambitious programs to save tigers and their necessarily large natural habitats. This is not the only tool available, however, but until a cultural realignment away from the the mystical benefits of tiger medicines can be established, the only direction will be towards a day when the beauty, power, majesty and grace of the tiger will exist only as a vague memory.
Tigers are the largest and strongest members of the cat family.
They have thick striped fur with the colour and markings varying between the sub-species. The large, Siberian Tiger has longer, softer fur. The Sumatran Tiger is smaller, more orange and has more black stripes than its Bengal cousin. The tropical inhabitants mainly live in forests and swampy districts and are good swimmers which helps to keep them cool. They often climb trees.