Tigers for Tigers collaborates with other universities

By Amber Wade

Published Jan. 25, 2008

Since Dec. 13, 2007, MU has been competing against other universities in a new kind of competition.

MU's Tigers for Tigers organization is working with the World Wildlife Fund, Clemson University and Auburn University to raise money to oppose tiger farming and the illegal trade of tiger parts.

Tigers for Tigers originally suggested a friendly competition to the World Wildlife Fund.

"Dana Morris, the adviser for Tigers for Tigers, and several other advisers got together with the World Wildlife Fund because we thought this would be a good opportunity to approach other schools with Tigers for Tigers programs and combine our efforts," Tigers for Tigers Vice President Laura Dotson said. "We also wanted to try to get other schools with tiger mascots involved and possibly create their own Tigers for Tigers programs."

World Wildlife Fund spokeswoman Kerry Zobor said the goal of the competition is to raise awareness about the circumstances tigers face.

"We decided to host this competition to call attention to the plight of tigers worldwide. Tigers face a very uncertain future," Zobor said. "The wild tiger population has suffered major losses during the last few centuries and has become one of the world's most endangered species. Worldwide, only 5,000-7,000 tigers exist in the wild, and these remaining tigers are threatened by population growth, illegal hunting and the expanding trade in tiger parts."

Since December, MU has raised $1,155, while Clemson stands at $290 and Auburn at $870. The competition will end Dec. 13, 2008.

Morris said Tigers for Tigers has several plans that will help them maintain this lead throughout the year.

Delta Sigma Phi fraternity will hold a golf tournament with some of the proceeds going to Tigers for Tigers, and the Mizzou Alumni Association will auction off artwork by Francesca Owens.

Tigers for Tigers is partnering with the MU athletic department to raise money and promote the competition.

"The types of activities will be helping us promote the competition and giving us access to fundraise at major sporting events," Morris said.

She said activities might include pre-game announcements of the group's presence and purpose and video board announcements during games.

"We're also planning additional fundraisers for next fall," Morris said.

Morris said the organization has had difficulty getting the word out, despite a strong start. She said this makes it hard to inform the students about the competition. "What's a challenge for us is trying to let the entire student body know that our organization exists, because not every student reads the newspaper or listens to the radio. The students in Tigers for Tigers are really trying to find out what's the best way to reach students," Morris said.

Even though this competition is mainly about raising money to protect the tigers, there are other ways that students can contribute to this cause. "Overall, if people are aware of the plight of tigers in the wild, we will have been very successful," Zobor said.

"Be aware of what is happening to the tigers and spread the word on our efforts to conserve them," Dotson said. "We would love to have wild tigers around as long as there are Mizzou Tigers."

Information about the competition as well as updated totals on the amounts raised by each school is available at http://www.worldwildlife.org/tigersfortigers.