In Asia, tigers have been a symbol of power and strength for centuries. Sadly, the number of Indochinese tigers in Southeast Asia is rapidly decreasing. The tigers are threatened by illegal trade of their skin, bones, and other body parts for use in traditional Chinese medicines. The tigers are also losing their natural habitat as Southeast Asia becomes more developed. I asked the taxi driver about the tiger statue in his cab, and he told me it gives him strength for his long shifts and it helps attract more customers. While the symbol of the tiger is helpful to the driver, it's ironic that the real tigers seem to be running out of luck.
To learn more about endangered tigers, go to www.tigersincrisis.com
