Hey all you cool cats and kittens, it’s Melissa at Orange County Library System. If you are like me, you’ve binged Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness while quarantined. After I finished the documentary, I was left with some questions, such as,
If you cover someone in sardine oil, will tigers eat them?
I cannot answer this, but what I did decide to do is become more informed on the issues presented in the documentary. If you’d like to learn more about tigers (and other big cats) and wildlife protection, I have collected a few resources so we can all start becoming more informed on the topic.
Resources Available Through the Library
The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and Their Culture by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
From the majestic Bengal tiger to the domesticated Siamese comes a meditation on cats from the bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs and The Social Lives of Dogs. From as far back in time as the disappearance of the dinosaurs, cats have occupied an important place in our evolutionary, social and cultural history. The family of the cat is as diverse as it is widespread, ranging from the lions, tigers and pumas of the African and Asian wilds to the domesticated cats of our homes, zoos and circuses. When she witnesses her housecat, Rajah, effortlessly scare off two fully-grown deer, acclaimed anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas starts studying the links that bind the feline family together. Immersing herself in the subtle differences of their social orders, feeding behaviors and means of communication, Thomas explores the nature of the cat, both wild and domestic, and the resilient streak that has ensured its survival over thousands of years.
Wild Lives: Leading Conservationists on the Animals and the Planet They Love by Lori Robinson
In Wild Lives, 20 of these pioneers share their stories via exclusive interviews. Coming from different countries, diverse cultures and a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and specializing in different species, all these conservationists have an important characteristic in common: they have committed their lives to saving our planet and the majestic species that call it home.
ZooBorn Cats by Andrew Bleiman
ZooBorns showcases the newest and cutest animal babies from accredited zoos and aquariums around the world. With interesting animal facts and background stories on the featured babies, ZooBorns illustrates the connections between zoo births and conservation initiatives in the wild.
Reads from Around the Internet
PBS’s Nature’s Big Cat Collection
Opposing Viewpoints Database (Gale in Context) (Requires library card and PIN)
The Big Cat Public Safety Act | U.S. Congress
The 16 bizarre questions Tiger King on Netflix leaves you with | The Tab
The Strange and Dangerous World of America’s Big Cat People | Longreads
Bengal Tiger | Photo Ark | National Geographic
