Julia Ng, author of the TRAFFIC report on Sumatran Tigers, describes a typical encounter with a tiger bone seller.
I am walking along a crowded, narrow street in Medan, the capital of Sumatra, Indonesia.
All around the air is thick with dust, stirred up by passing traffic.
As the buses and scooters zoom past, I scan the contents laid out on an old velvet cloth on a roadside wooden table before me.
All manner of brightly-coloured gems are present - and there amongst them is what looks like a an off-white lump of stone.
I pick it up and to examine it more closely. There are grooves down the side and it is the right size and weight. To my trained eye, there is no doubt whatsoever as to its true identity: a Tiger canine tooth!
I feign delight at my discovery, hoping to interest the vendor.
"Pak, berapa ini?" [How much?] I ask.
The vendor tells me the price and I steer the conversation round to try and find out more.
"So where did it come from and can you get me more?" I innocently enquire.
Once satisfied with the information I receive, I make my excuses and carry on down the street. Soon I come across another gemstone vendor, and the process begins again.
At the end of the day I review my findings: five canines in all. That means at least two tigers have been killed.
Tigers once roamed the islands of Bali and Java, but now they are gone.
If the demand for tiger parts continues, it will only be a matter of time before the tigers of Sumatra follow those of Java and Bali into oblivion, and Indonesia will have lost one of its richest natural treasures.
The world simply cannot sit back and let this happen; I know my work must go on.
:: Read Sky News environment correspondent Catherine Jacob's report on the tiger trade here
I personally believe that Nature will find a way....the bad weather we're now experiencing.....karma on a massive scale I think.
Posted by: Alan, Cork 25 Mar 2008 19:12:11
I despair at the brutality and indifference that humankind shows to the natural world. We are killing this planet off, bit by bit.
This planet, is not just ours but the human population has all but taken over every inch.
These beautiful, magnificent creatures are sadly disappearing more quickly than anyone realises, soon they will be gone for good.
When will mankind ever be intelligent enough to know what is precious, more precious than monetary gain will ever be.
What benefit will money be, when are planet and the beautiful things in it are all gone.
Mother nature will eventually cleanse this once beautiful place in which we all live and share and hopefully she will not include humankind the next time around.
Its not just the magnificent tigers, or the persecuted whales and dolphins,etc etc it is everything that is good or has a use for humankind.
I personally feel ashamed to be part of the human race because I know of all this cruelty and greed that is destroying all these different and marvelous species, but I can do nothing apart from put pen to paper, but no one cares enough to do anything to help.
You know what they say, you dont know what you have got untill its gone.
Too late then though, isnt it??
Posted by: Sue B Sheffield UK 4 Mar 2008 15:25:16
We're rapidly sterilizing the Earth of all life that we can't contain/use/eat. The forests have gone and the Earth is gradually getting covered with concrete and buildings. Any threat to humans from animals is not tolerated which means tigers now have no-where on Earth to exist. (We've reached a stage in the UK now where people are actually picking up dog poo and putting it in plastic bags!)
It also concerns me that everyone is now so focused on the atmosphere that they are forgetting other equally and related important environmental issues on the ground. Issues that are actually proven - like human population increase and the destruction of wild habitat.
In the UK the animal petting parks are all closing down due to 'infection risk' which means children have no contact with animals and can't develop any real affinity with them.
I think we should at least work at culturing a love for animals and nature in children and also set aside areas to stay wild; if we don't, in the not too distant future they won't give a damn about anything but themselves.
Posted by: Bruce - Scotland 13 Feb 2008 15:03:19
As the old saying goes, wherever mankind lands, it causes destruction, yet ignore the many an [Objection] put forth, relying very much upon ignorance.
As Carol Kennedy so eloquently states,our hearts and land will be so much poorer, if this trend continues.
So, how about we all [Shakira] the rules a little and agree from here on forward, that unless these beautiful creatures die of natural causes, human society will allow them to recover so as not to make them extinct like many other such beautiful creatures. So, which country is gonna be the first to sign up...... (By The way, natural means natural and not assisted by any other means.)
Posted by: Khalid 13 Feb 2008 13:55:15
When mankind has finally killed off all the beautiful animals that used to inhabit this world of ours, our lands and hearts will be so much poorer.
Posted by: Carol kennedy 13 Feb 2008 12:24:52