As the largest member of the cat family, tigers are revered worldwide for their beauty and power. Flawlessly adapted for their habitats - tropical rainforests, grasslands, swamps, and forests - tigers are top predators who dominate their territories. Their striped coats help them to blend into their surroundings making them difficult to detect by unsuspecting prey. And large, padded feet allow them to silently stalk prey. Although they are one of the most respected animals, they are also one of the most threatened. Of the six living tiger subspecies, all are endangered - some critically - and one is thought to be functionally extinct. This issue of Land, Sea & Air invites you to learn about these remarkable animals and see what is being done to save them from extinction.

With dwindling populations throughout their range, tigers have become a main conservation focus. Teach your students about animal protections laws, the wildlife trade, and how humans and nature collide through the following activities.

Animal protection laws can get confusing! Introduce K-3 students to the organizations that help to protect endangered species, such as tigers, with the Animals and the Law Spelling Bee activity.

Along with poaching and habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade is one of the main threats to wild tiger populations. Teach fourth through eighth grade students about the wildlife trade with the following activity.

Conflicts with humans due to habitat loss and decreased prey availability are serious threats to tiger populations. In this activity for students in grades 9-12, students will explore other conflicts between humans and nature to see if there is a positive solution for both.

Where is each tiger subspecies found? How large do they get? Do tigers communicate with one another? Can they really eat 88 pounds (40 kg) of meat at one time? Discover the answers to these questions and more using the links below.

Listen to tigers without leaving your classroom.

Human-induced threats are the greatest challenge to tiger survival. Habitat loss, combined with resulting prey loss, is the main threat. As tigers are losing their home, they are more likely to encroach upon human areas resulting in conflict that likely leads to the killing of the tiger. Read how the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is helping by using the links below.

Looking for the most recent tiger population numbers? Visit the IUCN Red List for more details on the status of tiger populations.

Get up close to tigers and many other breathtaking animals on an educational field trip to Busch Gardens Tampa. Visit:

Too far for a field trip? Discover more about tigers without leaving your classroom! SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Emmy award-winning series ShamuTV is broadcasting Saving a Species: The Tiger Story on September 18th, 2009. You can find out the program details, time, and satellite information for the broadcast at: