Yes, Tigers are beautiful and even seem cuddly at times, but we must remember that they are wild animals. It is in their blood to hunt and be at the top of the food chain. Whether they are in captivity, like zoos, and used to having people around or not, they must be respected and even feared. They are very large animals that can kill when they want. Don’t get me wrong here. I am not trying to fear-monger or make these animals out to be something they are not. I just want people to remember their place when standing next to one. Mankind tends to be fearless and think that we are invincible. For some reason, we expect these wild animals to recognize that we are man, and they should obey us. These are not tame house cats and they should not be treated as such. They are bigger an faster than us. They have evolved into the predatory species that they are and have no reason not to look at anything smaller and weaker as food.
Below is a video from YouTube on Tiger attacks to demonstrate how powerful they are. These clips might not be for the faint of heart. They are not gory, but do show some blood, so view at your own risk.
Every time I see a tiger in person, animal to animal, I am in such awe of them. I feel lucky to be able to stand next to them and appreciate their size and and strength, and feel even luckier still to have thick glass or a fence in between us. I don’t know if you can relate, but it’s almost this mixture of feelings, like fear and euphoria at the same time. I am so ecstatic to be in their presence but can’t wait to leave. I have that surge of adrenaline and want to run, but can’t because I’m locked in place. When I get the chance, I like to look into their eyes if they let me and it’s almost hypnotic. There’s something deep and soulful there, but I also can’t help thinking that they could eat me if they wanted at the same time.
Anyway, I’m saying all this because I respect these creatures so much. I hope that others of you out there do as well. I think the best thing to try and do is understand them. Ignorance is such a weakness for humans. We feel like we are in charge, but fail to realize how often that is not the case. Sure, relationships can be made with animals, but just like with other people, it should be based on respect. If you have the chance to see a Tiger up close. Just sit quietly and try to look into it’s eyes. I’m sure it won’t take long for you to get the feeling that you are not in control and are lucky enough to be having that experience in a safe place instead of out in the wild.