International Tiger Day is a day to celebrate, raise awareness and protect the animals, and their natural habitat.
The lion may be the king of the jungle, but it’s the tiger that holds mystique and charisma. From the Chinese zodiac, to Buddhism, and even Rocky Balboa (cue trumpets), the largest of the cat species has been a symbol of strength and power throughout history and across cultures.
But unfortunately, the survival of these majestic beasts is in danger. Today, there are only 3,200 tigers living in the wild globally; and very recently it was announced that there are only 100 tigers left in Bangladesh’s largest mangrove forest. In Indonesia, there remain as few as 400 Sumatran tigers, while both Bali and Javan Tigers are already extinct. The main culprit for this rush towards extinction is forest clearing for palm oil and pulpwood plantations to be used to make many of the products we use every day.
But it’s not all doom and gloom! Here are ways you can help.
Look for forest-friendly products
Over the years, Greenpeace has successfully moved companies like Procter & Gamble, Mars, Unilever, Mattel and Nestle to commit to No Deforestation policies. In June, Indonesian paper giant APRIL finally agreed an immediate stop to pulping rainforests. Make sure to look for products with a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo and check out Greenpeace International’s friendly guide to buying sustainably.
Be aware of ‘dirty’ palm oil
Celebrities like Joaquin Phoenix, Kellan Lutz and Gillian Anderson have joined Greenpeace to call for an end to everyday products being manufactured through forest destruction. Check out our short animation to see how deforestation from palm oil is threatening the Sumatran Tiger in Indonesia.
Protect Paradise!
Already over 700,000 people have signed our petition to demand tiger and forest-friendly products. But we need more support! Help us reach our goal and put your name down to protect the forest home of tigers and many other wildlife and demand a forest-friendly future.
