WASHINGTON – Sunday belonged to the orange and black.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo celebrated Global Tiger Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to honor the endangered animals who are facing dwindling habitats and poaching.
Throughout the day, the zoo’s tigers enjoyed a special frozen treat of bones and meat, while experts answered participants’ questions about the great cats.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Chip Wisecotton says he teaches children about the need to protect the tigers that are still left in the wild.
“I want to make sure, especially kids, know about tigers because they are the ones who are going to tell their parents to help save tigers. And maybe with their help, we can do something about it,” Wisecotton says.
Marshall Jones, a senior conservation adviser with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, says the goal of the tiger initiative is to double the number of tigers in the next 12 years. He says there are only about 3,200 tigers left in the wild.
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