This is a photo I took of Kumara (Amur tigress). At the zoo, I wanted to spend a bit more time with her since I had been busy with other things. It was a really great experience, she seemed to enjoy my company and I her's. I edited the photo to accentuate the magic of the moment. Not the best photo around, but definitely a favourite of mine since it captures her angelic personality.

This photo was recently featured by international NGO, WildAid used to help promote education about endangered species. Please visit WildAid at this http://www.wildaid.org/eng.asp?CID=1

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Tigers are the largest of the big cats and are exclusively found in Asia from India to Vietnam, from Indonesia to the Russian Far East. The tiger can be divided into 9 subspecies: 4 are currently critically endangered and 3 are already extinct. Though estimations of tiger populations only a few years ago was 5,500-6,000, today populations are likely closer to 3,500 and are still declining. Dramatic declines of the tiger in India, thought to host the majority of the world's tigers, have fallen to less than 1,411. Overall, the past decade has seen a 40% reduction in tiger habitat, which now represents a mere 7% of its historic range. Poaching is a significant problem throughout the tiger's range, the demand for its body parts in traditional medicines, tonics, and exotic dishes driving a lucrative trade that is wiping out entire populations. Long-term threats include habitat fragmentation and prey depletion, which is accelerating the tiger's demise and subsequently reducing the long-term genetic viability of many populations.

If you want to help, the best for you to do is to educate yourself (http://www.savethetigerfund.org), never buy products made from tigers or endangered species (http://www.wildaid.org), and tell others. Contact me for more information.