subject: Giant Stuffed Tiger Toys and the Tiger's Fate in the Future [print this page] Giant Stuffed Tiger Toys and the Tiger's Fate in the Future
Giant stuffed tiger toys are very popular plush in the world of stuffed animals. With some as large as six feet in body length, a child can almost feel like they're interacting with the real thing.
According to the latest report by the WWF (Word Wildlife Fund), with the next 12 years, the tiger species could be extinct. There is hope, however, that a 2010 November top level meeting in Russia, could begin the reversal of what has been an ongoing decline.
The WWF is hoping that by 2022 (the next Chinese year of the tiger), they will be able to double the population of wild tigers. Within the last century, loss of habitat, illegal hunting, and the trade of tiger parts used in asian medicines, have all been responsible for the current population status of the big cats. In fact, their numbers have been reduced by a whopping 97 percent leaving just 3,200 tigers living in the wild today.
The head of WWF Sweden, Ola Jennersten, believes the situation is "more hopeful than ever." With the initiative of 13 'tiger states,' along with different government and conservation bodies all ready to meet in Russia in 2010, there is a very real chance to stop the species from becoming extinct. Per Jennersten "this will be achieved through increased political involvement, focus on the tiger landscapes that have the greatest chance of long term retention of the tiger, and increased control of tiger trade." It is expected that Vladmir Putin, the Russian Prime Minster, will be attending the Saint Petersburg summit; in the past few years, has has made a point of showing his love for nature, by not only kissing animals in public, but getting involved in various stunts that have involved wildlife which has included tigers.
Per the WWF, there are a total of 1,800 tigers living in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. An additional 450 can be found in Malaysia, 350 are spread out through southeast Asia, and about 450 can be found in Russia.
It would be nothing short of a tragedy if giant stuffed tiger toys were all that remained of the species. While international summits have taken place before, with the tiger populations ongoing declining numbers, they seem to have had little to no effect. Teaching new generations about tiger conservation is critical to the species survival and with the purchase of giant stuffed tiger toys as a way to raise more awareness, perhaps some real headway can begin in that regard.
stuffed tiger toys
giant stuffed tiger
Copyright Shelley Vassall, 2010. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
