#5: Goodbye Tiger Week!

Just because it's the end of Tiger Blogfest doesn't mean everyone can just forget about our beautiful feline friends and leave all these behind as if only a hype.

Here's an outtake I came across today:

WASHINGTON – Michelle Obama told a group of curious kids visiting the White House Thursday about her daughter Malia's most frequent question about Dad's job: What's he doing to help tigers?

Asked about her family's favorite animal, the first lady said they talk about tigers at least once a week, because Malia, 11, is concerned about what President Barack Obama is doing to save the endangered animals.

"He tells her he's working on it and there are a lot of people who are thinking about it," she said. "But I think, the Obama household, we're trying to save the tigers."

Although most of us don't have a direct personal line to the top of the power-chain, we could still do our part. For instance, as suggested by Planet of the Monyets: send an email to the Prime Minister and ask him to attend the Tiger Summit in Vladivostok in September this year. Ask him to make firm commitments that Malaysia will protect its tigers.

With the end of Tiger Blogfest 2010, certain banners will have to come down from the blog. So to commemorate the majestic animal, and to remind us of their plight, here's a closing banner for this succesful online event.


Yours truly,

#4: Double Whammy

Today is Earth Day.

A double dose of plight.
A plight for our planet.
And a plight for our tigers.
(and every other inhabitant too)

Where else in this universe do you get to see sights like these?

A white sandy beach and crystal blue sea, a backdrop of blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
(@Shangri-La Rasa Ria)

Gorgeous orange and royal purple hues during sunset.
(@Bukit Mengkabong, Tuaran)

Lush green majestic trees, 'neath the canopy on a sunny day.
(@ RDC, Sandakan)

Perhaps you might say that there may be another similar planet somewhere out there in the unknown abyss, but even if that is so, it's not like you can get there anyway. So why not do your part to ensure that these breathtaking sights are still there for the future generations, YOUR future generation?

Think about it.

Happy Earth Day!

#3: The National Icon

"The Malayan tiger is depicted in the coat of arms of Malaysia, symbolising the government and appears in various heraldry of Malaysian institutions such as Maybank and Proton. It symbolizes bravery and strength to Malaysians.

When the Malayan tiger was accepted as a sub-species of the tiger family, the news was warmly received in Malaysia. However, there was soon debate over the scientific naming of the Malayan tiger. Researchers proposed a name to recognize the work by Peter Jackson, a zoologist, with big cats: Panthera tigris jacksoni.

However, the Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (MAZPA) and the Government of Malaysia protested, arguing that Malaysia should have been consulted over the naming of its national icon. Malaysia holds that the naming should reflect the geographical region, Malaysia. In Malaysia, therefore, the Malayan tiger is known as Panthera tigris malayensis."

One would assume that if you were to protest and argue so passionately over the name of something, you should be making your utmost effort to care for its welfare.

Besides, it would be VERY EMBARASSING INDEED if the 500 or so tigers in the wild were to be extinct, and the only example of a Malayan Tiger you could ever show someone who asks is the symbol of a car. Or a bank. Or a football association. Or the t-shirts of the athletes. **


Think about it.

**or the pictures that I have drawn.

#2: boo-ROAR!

In addition to its usual menu of boar and deer, the tiger has been known to feast on the occasional monkey.

While it cannot climb trees with the agility of monkeys, a tiger would work its way stealthily under a tree and roar...

...to frighten the monkey so that it would fall off its perch down to the waiting tiger.


Did you know?

With unplanned forest managements, huge acres of forests are being cleared, reducing the natural habitat and hunting grounds of the tiger.

People who mindlessly protest and boycott forest products are not doing any good. What everyone should realise is that either we give up entirely our dependency on a certain commodity or carry out better management plans for development projects. Since the latter ain't gonna happen any time soon, perhaps corruption should stay out of projects that involve the environment.

Think about it.

#1: Hello Tiger Week!

Did you know?

There are less than 500 tigers in the wild.
There are more students in ONE school than tigers in the wild.

Think about it.

Call of the Tiger

ROAR.

Planet of the Monyets is organising the Tiger Blogfest 2010 which will be held from 19 – 23 April 2010.

To quote POTM: "The Tiger Blogfest 2010 is an avenue for the blogging community to contribute towards protecting our national heritage. Tell a story, write a poem, post a technical paper, draw cartoons, compose a song, relate your personal experience – anything as long as it convey the message of the need to protect our tigers."

For more information, check out the First Announcement at the website. If you are game to do your part for our tigers and participate in this blogfest, please contact Planet of the Monyets at gbm.ere@gmail.com to register your blog.

A Tiger Blogfest participant,