Before the forum began, the delegates from each country had drafted their youth outreach projects. We stated this day by presenting these projects to our friends. To a large extend, who we are defines how our outreach projects will be. Since majority of the delegates are students, our projects tend to be associated with schools, universities and have something to do on the social networking websites. Although the projects vary from country to country, they all have one common aim. That is to cultivate the idea of tiger conservation in youths.
This tiger youth forum provided an opportunity for youths to discuss, analyse, evaluate and adopt the most effective youth tiger action plans which can determine the survival of the tiger specie in the wild. Each country makes use of the strength it has to promote the idea of tiger conservation. Knowing that the Malaysia and Indonesia youths are relatively more active on social networking sites, we effectively deliver to them the key actions that are crucial to save wild tigers through this channel of communication. Apart from online activism, potentially forceful off-line movements include occasional public engaging activities such as competitions, dramas, talks and games, whichever suite the interest of the local youths at large. To increase greater public participation, we are designing a massive movement to mark our global cooperative effort in tiger conservation. Other innovative ideas have also been put on the table; however, their realisation will depend on many factors as well.
After a long and heated discussion, we found ourselves overwhelmed with what it seemed like an impossible task as time is running out for tigers and we need to respond quickly to their plight. A tiger expert told us, “A wild tiger is disappearing at the rate of one tiger per day (a non natural death of course!).” We now have about 3200 tigers remaining in the wild worldwide (the number is only an estimated one because no one really knows the exact figure).
