Happy Chinese New Year!
Under the spotlight this time around is the South China or Xiamen Tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis, symbol of bravery, dignity, courage, wealth, power and unpredictability. At approximately 8 feet long and 330 lbs (scary if you ask me), it’s surprising that this subspecies of tiger is in fact one of the smallest, making it among the most delicate and perhaps most vulnerable felines in its clade. Listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, it saddens me to think that such a magnificent beast could be reduced to only tens of individuals remaining in the whole wild world.
Its persecution began in the 20th century, largely considered as pests and man-eaters by Chinese farmers and villagers under influence of the revolutionary Mao Zedong. In just a short period of time, the South China tiger has become virtually extinct in the wild and it wasn’t until 1977, near the end of Mao’s leadership that the Chinese government imposed hunting bans, putting an end to the perverse trade of tiger farming in a desperate attempt to revive their populations .
In contrast to other beliefs, I personally don’t feel it’s too little too late. The most optimistic conservationists hope to restore their numbers, breeding thousands of tigers in protected captivity though it likely won’t be for a while until they are ready to return to the jungle on their own. Reintroduction of a captive species into the wild is a complicated task, as it may take generations to condition the tigers to hunt and self-satisfy their completely carnivorous diets, weaning them from the support of a few caring humans.
Like the Giant panda, the Xiamen tiger is a charismatic flagship species and 2010 serves as a good reminder to the Chinese as well as the general public. Hopefully their additional attention this year gives them a bit of a boost in positive contributions over at least the next dozen years towards raising awareness of their critical situation so that the Panthera tigris amoyensis can, in all their glorious digitigrade prowess, stand tall as a species… once again.
Speak Up For Science! 