Tiger Tiger Burning Bright

Tiger Tiger. burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye.
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile His work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger Tiger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

" The Tiger - a poem by William Blake (1794)"

Above are two items that I would like to highlight - the coat of arms of Malaysia and a poem by William Blake circa 1794 - that display the tiger (panthera tigris) and speak highly of it. Today the number of tigers in the wild have dropped from over 100,000 in the early 1900s to just over 5,000 currently. Their range from Siberia in the north right up to Bali has now dwindled to tiny pockets of protected forests in Asia.

Malaysia is home to the Malayan Tiger (panthera tigris malayensis) a sub-species that was officially ratified in 2004. Up to that period, the world believed that the big cat of our Malaysian forests was the Indochinese Tiger (panthera tigris corbetti). Now isn't this something to be proud of? We have a gift from Mother Nature that we can call our own and this is our national treasure. Today roughly around 500 of these majestic beasts roam the dense forests of Peninsular Malaysia. Their numbers used to be much much more but illegal poaching, reduction of natural habitat, reduction in natural prey such as sambar deers and wild boars and human tiger conflict have put paid to their numbers. 

With the creation of national parks, there is some form of protection offered to these beasts who reign supreme over our forests. They are the apex predators of the forest and it is up to us to maintain this status quo. With the initiative of this Tiger Blogfest, it is hoped that the general public take a keen interest in the protection and well-being of this natural treasure. For starters, spread the word around and keep your circle of friends informed on the plight of our national treasure. Also please shun all form of medications that are made of tiger body parts as it has been scientifically proven that there is no truth in their supposed medicinal properties - remember when the demand stops, the reason to supply stops - also please refrain from using tiger body parts as ornamental decorations.

Let us take the first proactive steps beginning today to ensure the well-being of our national treasure so that it's beauty and mystery can be enjoyed by the future generations. Let the roar of the king be heard forever in our forests and may he rule supreme for generations to come...

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The tiger is our national animal. Our heritage. But today only less than 500 of them

remain in the wild. As Malaysians, we need to stand up and protect our heritage.

Speak to your children. Speak to your leaders. Everyone of us can make a difference.

For further information, please visit MYCAT (www.malayantiger.net), WWF Malaysia

(www.wwf.org.my) and Department of Wildlife & National Parks (www.wildlife.gov.my)

HARIMAU KITA, WARISAN KITA!!!

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