Give the Gift of Life This Holiday Season

Give a meaningful gift this holiday season.

The World Wildlife Fund makes it easy for everyone to do their part to save endangered species. Just visit http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/species_category.cfm and choose between 100 species you can adopt (proceeds go towards conservation efforts).

I'm big on saving the wolves and tigers, but take your pick!

It is estimated that only about 5,000 to 7,000 tigers remain in the wild, most in isolated pockets spread across increasingly fragmented forests, stretching from India to southeastern China and from the Russian Far East to Sumatra, Indonesia. Largest of all cats, the tiger is one of the most threatened species on Earth. These beautiful cats are threatened by growing human populations, loss of habitat, illegal hunting (of both tigers and their prey species) and expanded trade in tiger parts used as traditional medicines.

Visit www.savethetigerfund.org for information on why tigers need our help!



Tiger parts are extremely valuable and every part of their body is illegally traded. People even make tiger penis soup. There's a "cure" for everything if you medicate with a tiger...at least that's what some cultures believe.

I've been active in saving tigers for many years and even adopted a few tigers through The Siberian Tiger Project. The quarterly newsletters and updates were really exciting. Until every tiger I adopted ended up dead-- victims of falling trees from loggers or poachers. I can't imagine a world without these majestic creatures and it really upsets me that the killing continues.

Read about the legendary tiger and new mom, Olga, killed by poachers:
http://www.wcs.org/353624/olgarelease


The Siberian Tiger Project:
http://www.wcs.org/international/Asia/russia/siberiantigerproject

* By Joelle, who came within centimeters of a tiger during her behind-the-scenes investigation on the treatment of circus animals at Barnum & Bailey. She published the story in her college paper.