Tigers Vs Humans

It's not a fight you really want to be in, although the winner would largely depend on how well armed the human was. In a chance encounter, the tiger has the advance - massive claws, fearsome teeth, powerful legs  and jaws, and a speed and weight which far outmatches our own - yet in a battle between the two species, humans are clearly winning. With less than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world, these magnificent creatures are right at the brink of extinction.

But they aren't doing themselves any favours, and the recent killing of six people by tigers in just a few weeks is a PR nightmare for conservationists trying to convince the authorities to strengthen the protection of the species. It is a tragic situation, and the tigers didn't fare much better, with four being killed during the same period of time, according to the environmental news group Care2.

Sadly, environmental groups such as the WWF say that these attacks could be blamed on 'habitat encroachment'. A critical loss of habitat due to illegal logging is forcing these huge beasts to leave their natural homes in order to find food and resources elsewhere, which just happens to be the settlements of the loggers and their families. It is the equivalent of moving into a house near the airport to take advantage of easy travel, and then complaining about the noise pollution from the low flying planes. Loggers living so close to the tiger's natural habitat is a no-win situation for either species, and the further destruction of the forests that they call home will not only cause the situation to worsen, but may see the final end of these beautiful but savage animals.

The photos of the captured female tiger believed to be responsible for killing three men are not the typical propaganda images of a vibrant orange and black cat lounging majestically in the sun, but rather show a snarling, vicious beast that most people would fear rather than try to protect, but that is the point. These animals were never meant to be our pets. They were never meant to be seen on display in zoos, timidly and calmly pacing an artificial enclosure. They are born predators; fierce and ruthlessly violent and make no mistake: if one found you wandering helpless in the jungle you would look more like a snack to them than the salvation of their species. And rightly so.

We cannot expect these creatures to defy their instincts and 'play nice' while loggers continue to destroy their homes and deplete their food sources, and the conservationists get bogged down in red tape and political profiteering. They are fighting to survive in a much more immediate and natural way, and if that means eating a few of us, well, I for one can't blame them!

Sign the petition to prevent illegal logging in Sumatra and protect the habitat of these tigers