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CM . . . .
Volume VI Number 19 . . . . May 26, 2000
This video opens with a carefully edited scene of a Bengal Tiger patiently
stalking and then attacking its prey. The plight of the tiger in India is
very serious. At the turn of the century, there were over 100,000 tigers.
This number quickly diminished to 30,000 by the 1940's due to the trophy
hunting which was a national sport. Conservationist Anthony Marr has
championed the cause of the tiger for two reasons. He believes that "if
the tiger is gone from this land, the land will have lost its soul." He
also understands that the greatest threat to the tiger's survival today is
the huge Chinese market for tiger parts. A dead tiger is worth $100,000 in
China where it is believed that, next to the mythical dragon, the tiger is
the most powerful animal. Through Chinese medicines, healers use tiger
parts to transfer that power to humans. Being Chinese, himself, Marr
believes that he may have a greater impact.
The video contains brilliant camera work which captures the power and
beauty of the tiger. The sound track echoes the India countryside by using
instruments native to the land. The narration is clear and easily
understood. Many of the scenes are very graphic, showing tigers tearing
apart gazelles or revealing hunters and poachers destroying the tiger for
its pelt or bones. These scenes are balanced, however, by the joy of a
playful young kitten or a delightful scene that allows the viewer to watch
as a very hot tiger gingerly and slowly sinks into a cool pond of
water.
Marr has targeted children as one of the avenues of support for these
endangered creatures. This goal will probably be most effective with the
children in India, but the biggest obstacle will be the poor Indian
villagers who have been displaced without compensation so that the
government can create sanctuaries for the tiger. Incentives are now being
created that will offer these people a better life if they will help to
save these endangered animals.
Bengal Tigers has aired on Discovery and Animal
Planet. The video also includes previewing questions and post-viewing
questions in addition to several web sites. The video would support a
study of endangered animals and also could offer many opportunities for
the students to problem solve and to create their own solutions.
Highly Recommended.
Susan Fonseca is a teacher-librarian at Glenwood School in St. Vital School Division in
Winnipeg, MB.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association.
Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice
is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without
permission.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - May 26, 2000.
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