Wild Tigers are near extinction according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Today, there are only a little over 3,000 tigers in the wild accounted for and this is a significant reduction from the 100,000 big cats that are said to have been around hundreds of years ago.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has joined forces with WWF in a campaign called Save Tigers Now to stop poaching, consumer demand for tiger parts, protect parklands where tigers can roam and mate in their natural habitat, support long-term research and monitoring for better conservation methods for these big cats and reduce conflict between humans and tigers.

During an investigation, Tim Santel at the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife uncovered that “...dead cats are worth more than live cats” on the black market, where Tigers are killed and sold for parts.........skin, skull, meat, gull bladders, bone, etc. making a lucrative investment for the dealers who participate in the horrid activity of poaching and black market sales of animal parts.

Watch the following video clip from WWF called “Captive Tigers: Easy Targets for Black Market Sales” to learn more about Tigers held in captivity. This is one of the major problems facing wild tigers that result in them being an endangered species. The video clip features footage from the documentary “The Tiger Next Door,” a movie by Camilla Calamandrei. The filmmaker urges audiences to support efforts in banning private ownership and breeding of tigers.

One of the easiest ways to help save tigers from extinction is by not purchasing any products that are made from tiger parts. This may seem like it is easier said than done but as a Leonardo DiCaprio fan and a person who loves tigers, I believe that making buying decisions that may improve the life of these big cats is the least that we can do in a society that is continuously developing condos, highways, commercial real estate and other properties that benefit man and man only over green lands.

It does not cost us anything to join the World Wildlife Fun and Leonardo DiCaprio in the quest to save the wild tigers.

If the request of being more mindful of your purchases is not enough to support the efforts of a large organization that works to protect nature, an A-list actor who chooses his work and affiliations wisely and a documentarian whose brought worldwide awareness to an important cause, consider this.....

All of the special effects, CGI for computer animation or 3D imaging and such in the world won’t recreate wild tigers if they become extinct one day, due to the negligence and cruelty of mankind.

This ain’t the movies. This is real life. Save Tigers Now. If not for me, do it for the World Wildlife Fund.

If not for the WWF, do it for Leonardo DiCaprio.....I mean shoot, he gave us “Titanic,” “Blood Diamond” and “Inception”! Are you really going to deny a guy who gave you “Inception”?

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