INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY

Today is July 29 and International Tiger Day on the National Day Calendar to raise awareness about the dwindling numbers of the tiger. Global leaders focus on the tiger during meetings designed to promote a system for protecting and enhancing their natural habitat.

#INTERNATIONALTIGERDAY

Nearly 100,000 tigers roamed Asia a hundred years ago. Today, the estimated number brings the tiger population to fewer than 4,000 tigers in the wild. One of the goals of International Tiger Day is to raise money to help save tigers and increase their population.

The Double Tigers Initiative collects about $350 million every year to help save tigers. The money is spent on investigators and rangers who patrol for poachers. The fund also pays for protection of tiger habitat, studies of their populations and movements, and even sets up thousands of wildlife trail cameras.

Tigers are often killed for their skin and their claws and teeth are used to make jewelry. Sadly, people buy tiger whiskers, tiger bone wine, tiger meat, and any medicine that contains tiger derivatives.

10 Facts About Tigers

Tigers populate 13 countries where they roam naturally: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Tigers are the largest cat species in the world, and the third-largest carnivore on land. In fact, Siberian tigers are the largest subspecies of tigers and weigh up to 660 pounds.
At top speed, tigers clock nearly 40 mph.
The name of a large wild cat with large black strips comes from the ancient Persian word “taig” meaning fast and sharp.
A tigers "turf" can be as large as 386 square miles or 1000 square km.
Like other cats, tigers are carnivores that prey on smaller animals that are herbivores. In order to maintain a balance between the plant-eating animals and the vegetation, tigers keep balance in with ecological balance.
An adult tiger consumes up to 88 pounds of meat in one meal.
The average lifespan of a wild tiger is 10 to 15 years.
Unlike most big cats, tigers are powerful swimmers. Not only do they swim, but they also swim great distances to hunt or cross rivers. Young tigers often play in water and adults lounge in streams or lakes to stay cool during the heat of the day.
Tigers are the only cat species that are entirely striped. When shaved, their skin has the identical stripe as their fur.

SUPPORT #InternationalTigerDay

Learn about the illegal wildlife trade.
Adopt a tiger through organizations such as the World Wildlife Federation.
Contribute to campaigns such as National Geographic's “Little Kitties for Big Cats” campaign.
Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/InternationalTigerDay.
Join the tiger conversation on social media by tagging #doubletigers and #InternationalTigerDay.