Nation's first mascot conservation program works to save 'Tigers for Tigers'
by Emily Schmidt, posted Oct. 24, 2007
October is Tiger Awareness Month at MU. Due to the MU mascot being a tiger, students and faculty created an organization called Tigers for Tigers to aid in helping the tiger species survive.
October is the busiest month of the year for the club. Throughout the entire month, the mission of Tigers for Tigers is stressed — raising tiger awareness.
The World Wildlife Fund has recognized MU’s Tigers for Tigers as one of the first clubs of its kind. Tigers for Tigers was created in 1999 as the nation’s first mascot conservation program. The goal of MU Tigers for Tigers is to ensure that there will be tigers for as long as Missouri’s mascot is the tiger.
“Mizzou Tigers for Tigers was truly a novel concept that has received recognition from major conservation organizations,” said Dana Morris, MU Tigers for Tigers adviser. “They realize the potential of the mascot program.”
Students interested in conserving the tiger species are encouraged to join the club. The club isn’t just for science majors; all different types of students join together for the purpose of conserving the remaining tiger population.
“I'm always impressed when students are willing and eager to volunteer their time for projects or clubs that are important to them,” Morris said. “Resume building, leadership and team work are all benefits of participating in student organizations, but members of Tigers for Tigers have a special dedication to saving tigers and because tigers are in a crisis situation, I think students are especially driven to recruit members, raise money and make this a mainstream organization on campus.”
The student chapter of Tiger for Tigers is involved in several aspects of ensuring tigers’ survival. The students raise awareness, educate the campus and local community about tiger conservation and raise money to fund research, education and community development projects.
“It feels good that I can do something now that will affect my children and my children's children,” said Claudia Chavez, an active member and the club’s current treasurer. “I think that is partly why I joined. I want wild tigers to be around so all my family for generations to come can appreciate what beautiful creatures tigers are.”
The Bengal tigers live primarily in India on all different terrains. In past decades, tigers were hunted for food, their pelts and their habitats. With new conservation programs in both the U.S. and Asia, organizations such as Tigers for Tigers are starting to make a difference.
“All of our activities are geared toward increasing awareness about endangered tigers, raising funds to protect them in the wild or educational and fun activities for our members,” Morris said.
Awareness activities include lectures by guest speakers, talks about tiger conservation by established alumni, integrated tiger lectures in MU classes and organizing student involvement through literature and booths in community and campus events.
“I hope we are giving the tiger mascot a realistic touch, that it's not just Truman,” Chavez said. “There are wild tigers in dire need of help and by getting involved in Tigers for Tigers, students can do something about it.”
Remaining activities for the month of October include:
