crouching LIGER hidden TIGON

While some people first came across the name of ligers through the 2004 released movie-- Napoleon Dynamite, I got my first exposure on this magnificent beast by watching a documentary. I’m not sure whether it was played on National Geography or Animal Planet or Discovery Channel (I love them all), I can’t really remember.

Since I only got the chance to watch the last 10-minutes of the documentary, I think that the information was not enough. So, I surf the internet, and I found about tigons. And so does about liguars, jaglions, leopons, and lots of other Panthera hybrid. And If I were to describe my feelings in one word, I would say I feel fascinated.

But, let’s just say that that is so not me. I love writing. This is why I wrote this article. For those who have no idea of both liger and tigon, here is a summary for you. Liger is the offspring produced by male lion and female tigress. On the other hand, tigon is the offspring produced by male tiger and female lioness.

The accredited zoos under American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) would never mix two different species. However, some zoos which own ligers claimed that it happened accidentally. Pity the lion; I think it must have felt really lonely that it is willing to mate with a tigress. Unlike ligers, tigons are much rarer since it is unlikely that a male tiger is able to mate with female lioness. Besides, a lot of tigon will die before they can make it into this world. Premature birth is also likely to occur due to some reasons.

Even though it was an accident, but, like any other scientific mayhem such as cloning, the existence of liger and tigon is also being questioned. It is the matter of etiquette. This is my personal opinion:

I think that liger and tigon should be given opportunities to live like any other protected animal since they are innocent. It was their parents’ fault right? Funny. Or maybe we should blame some people who breed them to gain money from their popularity as exotic animals.

Come to think of it, I can’t imagine if these humongous ligers (which stands ten feet tall on its hind legs), does live in the wild (but this can’t happen due to their habitats do not overlap). I mean, to survive an attack of a lion is considered really lucky, and to die of being attacked by a lion is considered as horrible, what would we say if we encounter liger (which can weigh up to 1000 pounds) looking at us as its prey? Oh no, this can give me nightmares!

And I pity the zoos, or any other centre that take care of them. Ligers obviously eat more. And that costs more money. Who says it is an easy job?

External Links

Ligers on National Geographic

Global Warming

Okay, now let’s try to talk about a more serious matter. I’m quite bored writing on just the same things all over again, so why not try something new. This time I would like to talk about global warming.

I chose this topic simply because I am fully aware that this is not good at all. I mean, I’ve done some research on global warming a few months ago (for my EST class) and I don’t like what I read. The first thing I got to know is that global warming is a slight increase in temperature around the globe. Maybe those who live in the Artic think that a few increases in degree Celsius might be pleasant, but scientists keep worrying. Even some of the coldest places in Siberia experience increase in temperature. And these little changes give humongous impact on the world.

Global warming causes the ice shelves to break. This will consequently made the sea level increase too. I don’t watch news that much but I think this is the reason why some low-lying countries got flooded nowadays. Flood is not a good thing as it will not just take away people’s life but also damage their properties.

Recently, I watch a documentary on National Geographic and it seems that the wildlife in the North Pole is affected too. Without ice, animals like the polar bear and seal will have difficulties to survive. This is just an example in a small part of the world. What about those in other regions? Of course they will naturally get used to it over time. That’s the use of evolution. But how can we be certain that these animals are able to evolve before they become extinct? That is a question that we should bear in mind.

Maybe you don’t really care about some wildlife that you never even heard of or never get the chance to know about due to your busy life. (I know some people like this) Would you change your perception if I tell you that global warming also causes other changes such as rainfall pattern and increases in the range of disease vectors? Some of these changes will somehow affect our economy. Hey, here I come, a fresh high school graduate trying to talk about economy! Well, I have to say that I don’t know that much and I don’t have any data to convince you. But believe me that the agricultural industry will be affected. And that means that we will become short of food. And that will lead to higher price market. Of course that we have genetically modified food that is resistant to this and that, but these foods are costly too, right? And in the end who will starve to death? The answer to this question got to be the poor and those who live in the third-world countries. Hey, this is an endless problem.

I’m sure you are tired with this article. You might say ‘Why should I read what a kid has to say about such a global problem that many world leaders can’t solve?’

Well, I can’t solve the problem alone. But I can do my part, although just a tiny part, but I believe that this will cause a huge impact somehow. First of all, I tried to raise awareness about global warming and its effects. I always talk about this matter that sometimes I irritated my friends. p/s: SORRY! Secondly, knowing that one of the causes of global warming is the release of greenhouse gases, I tried my best to do my part. I cycle instead on riding a motorcycle or using cars. I make sure that the refrigerator in my house is closed tightly and I don’t open the door too long. I recycle newspaper, glass and any other recyclable items. (Hey, I got money in return, so this is fun). I’m sure there’s a lot more that I can do. I’m sure, you, my readers can do the same too.

We can’t afford to lose the Earth due to our own carelessness and ignorance. Play your part and save our world.

Hakuna Matata?

Have you ever watch The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata? If you had, remember what Rafiki told Timon? He said: “Look beyond what you see”. Of course it is funny (and cute) that Timon takes it literally. Anyway, I’m telling you this to make your brain there think and look around us, take a look beyond what you see.

Now, what am I talking about? Let me make this easy for everyone. I believe that every single organism on the Earth has something that we should think about. And this is where we can apply the concept.

Take a look at ants for instant. They are social insects and they are well-organized colonies. Please take note that these ants will do anything and everything, just to find food. It’ll travel far, far away to search for food. And if it can’t lift it up on its own, the others will come along and help out. Isn’t it beautiful?

And that’s not all. I’ve seen them so strong. They’ll hold on and never give up easily. My mom planted a mango tree in front of our house, and there’s a lot of weaver ants (is that what they’re called in English?). One day, I was trying to clean a dustbin, which is surrounded by many of these ants. I sprayed the bin with water. And they just don’t know how to let go. I gave up and left the bin for some time, hoping they’ll go away.

I think that people should adapt these values in their life. Every time I’m feeling down, I’ll never let go. I can go on talking about the values we can learn from ants, but I prefer for you to think about it and look beyond what you see.

Let’s see another example. Take a look at camels. I’ve seen and touched them in Saudi Arabia 2 years ago, and I kind of like them (besides their smells). Camels are able to withstand changes in body temperature and water content that would kill most other animals, which means they can survive in the dessert without water for 2 weeks.

Camels are very useful when they once helped human beings to travel in the dessert. In turn, human take a good care of them. All I can see here is it is important for us to help weaker person because we’ll need their help someday, just like the camels did.

There are a lot more things to see. Iguana, orang utan, crocodile, and dolphin, just name it and look beyond what you see. And you’ll find that the colour of life is beautiful. Good luck!

Bat?

One day, I went back to hostel as usual after school is over. I went to pick up my towel which was hanging outside and I saw some of my friends were surrounding something. My curiosity led me closer to them, and soon enough I was right in the middle of them. My heart was like being struck by lightning to see a helpless, tiny bat in the drain. The drain was full of water because it rained in the morning. The bat even broke one of its wings. My friends were trying to get it out of there but all of them were too afraid to touch it by bare hand.

I have a passion for wild creatures that I quickly got the bat out of the drain without even thinking of it as a threat. I put it aside and went inside to get ready for prep class. However, I couldn’t just leave the poor creature there, so I decided to take care of it. I fed it with some nuts before I left it under my bed. Only then, I went to class again.

I doubted that it could survive after I heard my friend’s confession. She said that the bat was flying in her dorm and scared some girls. Somehow they hit the bat, and it hit the fan which is the reason why its wing was broken. Then, they threw the poor creature outside of the window. What? Their dorm is on the second floor. That was a pretty cruel act.

My heart was pounding hard during the prep class. I dashed back to the hostel when the bell rang. And I couldn’t control myself when I saw it not moving anymore. It’s dead. I guess it couldn’t survive after spending a few hours in the drain, with broken wing, cold and definitely no food. I touched the dead body for the last time and examined its anatomy before I left it on the backyard of our hostel. I’m not sure but I think it is the Malayan Flying Fox, but it was quite small. Anyway, I lost the most wonderful creature that I’ve ever got involve with.

I think that people should really start to develop their love for animals. If I’m correct that it is a Malayan Flying Fox, then you should know that the population of these bats is declining in most countries due to hunting and urbanization. These animals are hunted for food and medical purposes. Farmers kill them as pests, for they sometimes feast on planted fruit, causing extensive damage to plantations. They are also killed by people who fear them as carriers of disease. So, why hurt even one of them?