My Favorite Question is "What can I do?"

I am collecting signatures for my "Tiger Support Cards"

This is from my "simple idea #1 & 1.b" on my blog yesterday.
If you'd like to join in this effort, it's a great way to start talking to people about the DIRE situation for Tigers. I am collecting these cards in Japan. Sorry if you're in Japan, I'm leaving on Feb 27, so I can't collect cards quickly enough to mail them...If you're in the US, you have until March 12 to get them to Clemson.

Please open the link for the "Tiger Support Cards"
and get people to sign them. I am not sure how they will print on American Sized paper, so please test print it before you do anything. Let me know if it needs adjustment.

When I go to India, and as I meet people who are working hard to protect India's wildlife, I will hand them a card, letting them know that someone far away is rooting for them. No matter how hard tough things may get, perhaps this little reminder can be something that helps them get through the day.

I will also make "thanks for your support" cards which I can get back to you in the mail, to give back to the people who signed your cards, so perhaps you want to keep a list for us to use! This will in a very very simple way connect the two people who have just written the cards...giving them a feeling that they have done something for the wild Tigers. Now, I know this doesn't mean crap to the Tigers...but if this network can be created, it can also be built upon. By the way, I don't tell anyone about the "thank you card" coming, cause then it's not as nice a surprise when they get a reply card back! haha

I am of course making it an option they can donate money, but if they are students or do not want to, then just signing their name and city, and writing an optional message is something that is easy to do. I imagine that if people want to write their email on there, the Indian person that gets their card might be inclined to write them! I don't know. so far no one has been willing to write their email.

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I find that quality interactions are the key to really winning people's hearts. If you can help answer their questions and teach them about the DIRE situation the tigers and Indian wildlife are in, then I think you can help convince them that SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING.

In Japan, most people are very easily able to separate themselves from major issues. There's a big gap between understanding an issue and doing something about it. In the US it's similar but in Japan, it's extreme. I could go into a million examples, but I won't. I just think this is ONE way to open people's hearts to the idea that "wow I just did something good for the Tigers!"

I am planning to meet again with the people who signed my cards, and ask them for additional support in the future. Perhaps there is more, I am just not thinking of right now. Comments welcome!

As I've initiated this project, I've been able to connect with people in a very interactive way. I don't just dump a bunch of bad news on them, but I give them something they can do, and perhaps in return, I will be able to bring something back for them other than a cheap trinket.


I am trying to create a one page fact file for Tigers, but haven't done that yet.

Basics: The Tigers are being poached, loosing habitat, and the habitat is being disconnected from each other so much that they are only living in 7% of their original habitat.

There used to be an estimated 100,000 tigers worldwide, and now there's only 3,200 and that count is quickly becoming smaller. We are thinking that UNLESS something is done, they will be extinct in less then 11 years (before the next year of the Tiger)

In fact, where I am working, India has the largest population of tigers in the world, but they imagine that within 2-5 years, the Tigers could be completely wiped out of the ecosystem. It's due to their 'easy access' (lack of good law enforcement). The prosecution rates for poachers are too low, and missing tigers are a huge concern. IF there were more deterrents for poaching, I am sure it would help. That is the work Tiger Trust is doing.

Also of concern are the rates of leopard poaching - for every 1 tiger poached, there are 10 leopards killed illegally. source for this info is another blog Wild Tiger Watch

In a landscape where there's so many species of grazing animals, if there's not enough predators to keep them in check, their populations could skyrocket and seriously mess up the balance of the fragile ecosystems of India's parks. If the grazers are allowed to increase, they will eat everything they can reach, and then when the food runs out, there is a severe population crash. We've had many examples of this in the US with deer and the lack of predators. So saving wild tigers, means you save the forests and all the species that depend on these natural areas.

There are so many species of animals in the natural landscape of India, but because there are so many people and very little habitat, they are all forced to live in little patches scattered throughout the country. There are efforts now underway to better protect the corridors and improve the status of the areas connecting the national parks, so Tigers, bears, leopards, and other animals can disperse safely to other areas. This is the work that JTEF is doing. The places where wildlife are flourishing, but so many times, they are stuck on little islands of habitat. With no where else to go, the genes cannot flow and many other problems are occurring that force humans to intervene.

If only nature could take it's course. The tigers don't want to be cuddled and cared for...it's in their nature to roam, be solitary and independent. However we've created the situation where we need to be involved and track them and move them around...it's too sad. Their legacy is too amazing to be left with a tragic ending. I don't want this generation of tigers to be the last that knows what it means to be free. That's why I try to do something EVERYDAY. I try to talk to someone everyday and I don't ever want to tell someone, that I've failed in my mission. I cannot bear the thought of saying, "The very last wild tiger was poached today."

So please collect signatures and mail them to the address below before March 12.
There are Clemson students coming to India bringing the money raised from the 5K run being held there.
*******Register here today! http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1915375*******

Tigers for Tigers *Mail to India before March 17 Tiger Trust c/o Takako Sato
132 Long Hall 206 , Rakeshdeep
Clemson, SC 29632 11, Commercial Complex,
Gulmohar Enclave, New Delhi- 110 049 ( INDIA )

IF people are interested in supporting the cause, Checks should be made out to Tigers for Tigers and sent to Clemson.

Thanks for the idea...I got it from a collective of people who inspire me!

-- Takako--

Tiger Support Cards linked online
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B4gY1ZIAvFCNYjIzODllYzktZTJmOS00Nzc5LWI3M2UtM2NmMzBjN2VmZjZj&hl=en&authkey=CLKp3ucP