In the dense forests of Bali, a magnificent creature once roamed silently, its golden coat blending into the lush surroundings. This was the Bali Tiger, a special kind of tiger found only on the Indonesian island of Bali. Sadly, today it exists only in old tales and pictures, lost forever due to human actions.
The Bali Tiger was different from other tigers, a bit smaller and with lighter fur. It lived in the thick tropical forests of Bali, where it hunted and raised its young. But as more people came to Bali and used the land for farming, the tiger had less space to live. This is a common story of unplanned growth, as with many 20th century extinctions, such as the Tasmanian Tiger and the Pyrenean Ibex - other 20th century lost species.
We're not exactly sure when the last Bali Tiger disappeared, but the last known tiger died in 1937, and was finally lost probably around the mid 1900’s. Alas, a beautiful creature in a spectacular forest, people hunted them for their unique fur and destroyed their homes by cutting down trees as civilization progressed.
The Bali Tiger's story teaches us how our actions can hurt animals. But we can also learn from it and do better to protect other animals from disappearing forever. Here's how:
Save Their Homes: We can help by keeping the places where animals live safe. That means making special areas where they can live without being bothered by people.
Stop Hunting and Selling: It's important to have strict rules against hunting animals and selling their aesthetically pleasing parts. If we stop people from doing this, animals will have a better chance to survive.
Work Together: We can't do it alone. Everyone needs to help, including the people who live near the animals. When we all work together, we can make a big difference. Vote with your wallet- whether it’s a Tasmanian Tiger T-shirt, or a Pyrenean Ibex Tote bag, show your support!
Learn More: We should keep studying animals to understand them better. This way, we can figure out the best ways to protect them.
But here's a question to think about: Why didn't people realize how important the Bali Tiger was until it was too late? If we had known earlier, could we have saved them?
Let's use the story of the Bali Tiger to remind us that we need to take care of our planet and all the creatures that call it home. By working together, we can make sure that other animals don't disappear like the Bali Tiger did.
At Speciologie, we are committed to saving species by working to remember and enshrine recently lost species. Remember 5% of all proceeds go to teams working to save our species.
