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This morning, I read something disturbing in December’s issue of National Geographic. One-hundred years ago, 100,000 tigers could be found in Asia. Today, there are approximately 4,000 tigers left. Asiatic tigers (tigers that separated from African packs) are poached for their skin, bones, teeth, eyes, and other parts. Who buys tiger parts? Most poachers kill tigers in order to take part in the Asian medicinal trade — a trade that generates up to five million dollars each year.

Some conservationists have attempted to keep tigers safe by placing these animals in zoos (mostly in India). Yet, even the metal fences and security guards that surround zoo property cannot prevent poachers from sneaking into a zoo in the middle of the night. Tigers that are kept in cages are easy targets for poachers who have the right metal cutting tools. Often, park officials wake up to find tigers slaughtered inside of their cages.

Have you ever wondered how a poacher is able to trap a tiger in the wild? If you’re thinking that a tranquilizer gun has something to do with it, you’re only partially correct. Poachers use small puppies — that’s right, puppies — to lure tigers into traps. By placing a petrified puppy in a trap, a tiger will wander into that trap. Often, puppies are killed in the process.

Government officials attempting to capture poachers use GPS tracking devices to note poaching locations. Those puppies that are placed in harm’s way are often left alone to trap a tiger for days on end. Government officials can mark poaching spots by listening to the wails of a terrified, cold, and hungry pup.

Even though conservationists and government officials are trying to save the Asiatic tiger population, this is much easier said than done. A very poor population is often lured by promises of large pay-outs for a tiger skin or other valuable part. Combined with government and park official corruption, it’s not unrealistic to assume that Asiatic tigers will soon be a thing of the past.