Recently articles appeared in the newspapers about tiger cubs..........creatures so our future generations will be able to enjoy them too.

Recently articles appeared in the newspapers about tiger cubs being offered for sale. It all began when a concerned individual heard rumours that a tiger cub had been caught in Pahang and sold to a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

Strange as it may be to the average Malaysian, tiger meat and bones are sought after by some people who believe that it can cure illnesses like rheumatism and hypertension. Fresh tiger meat can fetch as much as RM1,000 per kilogram. The going rate for tiger bones is RM600 per kilogram.

The tiger is a protected animal. Poachers can be jailed or fined if caught. However, the tiger trade is so profitable that the animal continues to be in danger.

The story of a tiger cub called Nicky caught public attention. Nicky was saved from the cooking pot by an animal lover. The Malaysian Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea learned that a tiger cub had been sold to a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. He paid more than RM10,000 for the cub and gave it to the Malacca Zoo to keep. Mysteriously, the cub disappeared from the animal clinic where it was being kept for examination. For two days the public worried. Many people feared that the animal had been stolen. To the relief of the zoo staff and the concerned public, Nicky was found safe. She was playing near the tiger enclosure. Luckily, it had rained so at least there were puddles of water for her to drink. She was hungry but appeared none the worse for her adventure. Nicky could have wandered out when some employee carelessly left her enclosure unlocked. The other possibility was that someone had tried to steal her. When that person realized that the tiger is a protected species, Nicky was returned to the zoo.

Human beings are strange. The desire for exotic foods appears to be universal. People eat bears' paws, camel humps, duck embryos, ostrich and even crocodiles. The list appears endless. Nobody really seems to have strong objections. As a result, some animals look to be in grave danger of disappearing from the face of the earth.

Turtle eggs were and still are a delicacy in many places. Now, many species of river and marine turtles are in danger of extinction. About fifty years ago, a major tourist attraction in Terengganu Darul Iman was to watch the giant leatherback turtles laying their own eggs on the beach. These faithful creatures come back loyally to the same beaches they hatch from to lay their eggs. Over the years, many of the eggs were eaten and now the sighting of a giant leatherback is a rare event.

What is the lesson for all of us? Like a wise American Indian chief once said, the earth is for all of us to share. We have to protect earth's creatures so our future generations will be able to enjoy them too.

Summary: A tiger cub about to be sold to a restaurant attracted public attention. Tiger meat is still in demand because it is believed to be good for the health. Despite the tiger being protected, poachers still hunt it for financial gain. Recently, an animal lover heard of a tiger cub about to be cooked. He bought and sent it to the Malacca Zoo for safe-keeping. 'Nicky' as he was called, however disappeared from the animal clinic. He reappeared but it was not known whether he was accidentally released or stolen. Human beings like exotic meat and many species, such as the leatherback turtle, remain endangered. Laws are passed to protect turtles. We have to protect animals for future generations.