a Tiger Journal

In researching any topic for an article, there is a usually a great deal of information that doesn’t go into the finished product. The same is true for a website. And often times what’s ‘left out’ is as interesting (or even more interesting) as what is ‘left in.’

The purpose of ‘a Tiger Journal’ is to share my ‘exploration’ of researching endangered tigers over this next year as I update the information in the Tigers in Crisis website. The journal will be sharing the ‘journey’ and not necessarily the final product.

And sharing the journey can be quite important. The journey often imparts important information that might not be discovered any other way.

For example, in early August (Aug. 1^st to be exact), I started making phone calls to both government agencies and conservation organizations who are involved in protecting endangered tigers. My goal was to start making contact with agencies and organizations that could provide me with the most up to date information regarding the status of endangered tigers.

Within a few hours after I made these calls, I received a call back from a representative from the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) with whom I had a very lengthy and informative conversation with. This representative was both well informed about the issue, and was very helpful in providing me with the information I was looking for. We agreed to talk again in the future as my research continues.

However in contrast to this, I have yet to receive a call back from the conservation organization I called, this, even though I was ‘assured’ by one of the organizations representative that I would receive a call back within a day or two.

This was something I was told again a week later (since they hadn’t called back) and again a week after that.

It’s now been over five weeks since I made the call and I’ve yet to hear from anyone from that organization.

Now…this is not information that would go into the Tigers inCrisis website. But it is information that should be pointed out as part of effort of researching the tiger issue.

It’s important to know why would a leading tiger conservation organization tell someone they were going to get ‘right back’ to them and then not.

Is this organization too busy to talk to individuals who are trying to make a difference in the tiger crisis? Or did they just lose the ‘call back’ message (three times)?

I don’t know (yet).

It’s also important to post this information as it represents how the process of gathering information for a story sometimes works. Or in this case doesn’t work.

It’s important to know what agencies and organizations are willing to work with individuals, and which don’t have the time (or inclination) to do so.

I have no doubt there will be many ‘stories’ like this over this next year while researching endangered tigers; stories that highlight successful efforts and stories that highlight the not-so successful ones.

And ‘a Tiger Journal’ is where those stories will be posted.

TOMORROW: Tigers in Crisis News

For more information about endangered tigers go to Tigers in Crisis

For more information about endangered species go to Bagheera