Tag: tigers

Calvin Klein’s Obsession For Men: The Ultimate Tiger Bait?

Posted on by Jennifer Spencer

There wasn’t a high school girl in the late 80s or early 90s that didn’t love the smell of Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men. The ubiquitous scent, laced with notes of tangerine, grapefruit, and bergamot, was the go-to cologne for many a teenaged boy. Today, it’s seeing a huge resurgence in popularity . . . in the wildlife kingdom.

Tiger T-1

According to several sources, forest rangers in central India are using Obsession to lure a man-eating tiger out of the forest. This latest plan comes after a two-year-long effort to capture the beast, during which time she’s killed an estimated 13 people.

The 5-year-old tiger, known as T-1, is unique in her boldness and lack of fear. Although the big cats compete with humans for natural resources in the region, they rarely deliberately hunt people. In fact, according to The Telegraph, tigers accounted for only 92 human deaths in a three-year period between 2013 and 2017. Most of those deaths occurred when the animals were caught by surprise (which is happening more and more as their natural territory is encroached upon).

So why is T-1 deliberately intentionally seeking out people? Scientists say that on occasion a tiger will lose its natural fear of humans and see them as prey. And they believe that’s what happened with this particular female.

How Cologne Can Help

Animals are driven by their sense of smell far more than humans. And, indeed, just the tiniest whiff of pheromone can deliver a powerful message. So seems to be the case with not just Calvin Klein’s Obsession, but several different perfumes and colognes.

A 2010 study at the Bronx Zoo showed that big cats are attracted to certain synthetic odors. Scents tested included Chanel No. 5, Jovan Musk, and CK Obsession–but Obsession for Men was the clear winner. The favorite kept cheetahs intrigued for a full 11.1 minutes, almost a minute more than the runner-up, L’Air du Temps.

Two years later, researchers captured their first man-eating tiger using the cologne.

The reason they like it so much? Civetone. The popular perfume ingredient is actually a pheromone that’s secreted by the small wild cat (from a gland which is, unfortunately, located near its anus). The scent of the ingredient is referred to as a fecal floral–according to perfumer Mandy Aftel, “[It] smells like poop, really. Poop. It’s funk.”

When big cats catch a whiff, they go crazy.

Hope For T-1

Indian authorities hope that by using the cologne as bait, they will be able to lure the tiger (and her two cubs) out of the forest for a trap-and-relocate effort. However, odds aren’t in their favor.

For months now, authorities have been trying to trap the family of tigers, using animals such as goats and horses as bait. The New York Times has noted that the efforts have been in vain, as T-1 “rips into them” and eats them quickly before vanishing.

Let’s hope that for the sake of all involved, the cologne does the trick.

Tiger lovers, rejoice! Endangered Bengal Tigers in Nepal have doubled their numbers in recent years!

Endangered Animal Lovers Rejoice! Nepal’s Tiger Population Doubles After 9 Years

Posted on by Jennifer Spencer

There may be hope yet for the endangered Bengal tiger.

These majestic creatures, which once roamed the Earth in numbers topping 50,000, have seen their population quickly decline over the last century due to habitat loss and poaching. In 2008, the Bengal tiger was listed as an endangered species as more and more began dwindling away. Only about 4,000 Bengal tigers are alive today.

While all of these tiger statistics are grim, conservation efforts in Nepal have shown great progress.

In a survey carried out earlier this year, 235 Bengal tigers were accounted for in Nepal, which is nearly a two-fold increase from the 121 tigers recorded in 2009. Thanks to political involvement and innovative conservation strategies, the Bengal tiger population in Nepal may sustain itself longer than previously thought.

Tiger Numbers On The Rise

By utilizing more than 4,000 cameras and 600 elephants, wildlife experts were able to track tigers residing along Nepal’s southern planes. After traveling the 1,700-mile route, they amazingly found the tiger population doubled in size after 9 years.

Its important to point out that the population’s growth isn’t due to luck.

“This is a result of concentrated unified efforts by the government along with the local community and other stakeholders to protect the tiger’s habitat and fight against poaching,” said Man Bahadur Khadka, director general of Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

The 2010 Conservation Plan

After severe deforestation and habitat loss ravaged big cat populations all across Asia, several countries decided to make a difference.

In 2010, Nepal and 13 other countries pledged to double their tiger populations by 2022 by signing the 2010 Tiger Conservation Plan. This plan has been backed by officials across the world, including high-profile celebrities like actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

“This significant increase in Nepal’s tiger population is proof that when we work together, we can save the planet’s wildlife – even species facing extinction,” DiCaprio said. “Nepal has been a leader in efforts to double tigers within its own borders and serves as a model for conservation for all of Asia and the world. I am proud of my foundation’s partnership with WWF to support Nepal and local communities in doubling the population of wild tigers.”

DiCaprio founded the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation in 1998 in an effort to protect the world’s wildlife.

The foundation has been actively working with the World Wildlife Fund, an international wilderness preservation organization, to increase tiger populations in Nepal and around the world.

Every Tiger Counts

Ghana Gurung, a representative of World Wildlife Fund, said the progress in Nepal is an example tiger conservationists around the globe should follow and take note of. Although, Gurung also notes the work to protect the world’s tigers is far from over.

“The challenge now is to continue these efforts to protect their habitats and numbers for the long-term survival of the tigers,” Gurung said.

“Every tiger counts, for Nepal and for the world,” said Gurung. “While Nepal is but a few tigers away from our goal to double tiger numbers by 2022, it also underscores the continued need to ensure protection, and improved and contiguous habitats for the long-term survival of the species.”