Powerful, quiet and swift, the tiger is the top predator in his part of the world.  But he has less control over his future than you do.  If he is to survive, he will have to rely on your good judgment and sense of values as you inherit the world from your parents and pass it on to your children.  Will tigers survive the 21st Century?  It's up to you.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Exotic Cats - All members of the cat family except for the house cat.  Exotic cats are usually found living in the wild or in zoos.

Extinction - The permanent loss of a species when the last member dies.

Natural Changes - Changes in plant life, animal life or the weather that are not caused by human activities.

Rate of Extinction - The number of species becoming extinct over a certain period of time, such as a year.

Species - A group of living things that can interact to produce offspring like themselves.  Tigers do not have lion cubs, and an eagle and owl cannot interact to produce offspring like themselves.

Unnatural Changes - Changes in plant life, animal life or the weather that are caused by human activities.

EXTINCTION IS FOREVER:  When the last members of a species die, that species becomes extinct.  Dinosaurs became extinct because the world changed too much for them to survive.  Natural changes have reshaped the Earth many times before, removing some old species and replacing them with new ones.  Unnatural changes caused by humans have sped up the rate of extinction by nearly 1000 times.  Each day about 137 different species of animal and plant are lost forever, and these species are not replaced by new ones.  We must slow down the rate of extinction if we want tigers and other wonderful animals to go on living in our world.  Exotic cats run a high risk of becoming extinct because they need to hunt in order to survive.  Hunting is a lifestyle that needs lots of natural land, the right kinds of prey animals, and the tolerance of human neighbors.  The bigger the cat is, the bigger its problems are, and some of the largest cats are among the most endangered.  "Operation Survival 21" looks at the challenges facing exotic cats, and how those challenges can be overcome by concerned people like you.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:  Which species will become extinct during your lifetime?  Wouldn't you like to think none of them will?  It is unlikely you can solve the problem by yourself, but you can make a big difference.  Learn about the issues facing endangered species and then adopt a lifestyle that values all life on Earth.  People like you can make Operation Survival 21 a success, making our world a safe place not just for exotic cats but all living things.  The goal of Operation Survival 21 is to make sure all species of exotic cats can survive the 21st century.

USE THIS FOR CREDIT:  If you are a student, get this adventure pre-approved by your teacher!  If you are a teacher, download the free, printable classroom version, teacher's guide, and activities pack.  Printed materials require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which is probably already installed on your computer.  Operation Survival 21 is geared to students in the third to sixth grades, though it may be useful for older students and adults.  While the entire curriculum can be covered in under three hours in a classroom setting, the included activities are an integral part of fulfilling the National Education Standards addressed in the teacher's guide.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:  You may write me and I will do my best to reply quickly.  There is a feedback form at the end of the teacher's guide that would help me greatly in knowing what I did right and what I need to do better.  I enjoy reading your mail, but...

PLEASE NOTE:  If you are under age 18, you should tell a parent, teacher, or guardian before writing, e-mailing or online chatting with any adult you do not know.  I will not answer any postal mail from a youth without a short note from a responsible adult telling me it's ok.  I protect exotic cats, but I care about your safety.

John Burkitt, Educational Director
747-A Greymont Drive
Nashville, TN 37217-2338
Email: chakal@catbox.com