"Save the tiger" may equal "Save the whole ecosystem." By doing what's necessary to protect tigers, one is protecting a great deal more that the tiger is dependent upon. Here
we have what might in fact be a good reason to concentrate more upon the
conservation of the tiger than upon less conspicuous animals. In
addition to that benefit, tigers are conveniently easy to focus on in
terms of public awareness. They supply a captivating and arresting image
that less charismatic animals - insects, for example - can benefit from
automatically. Attention that goes to the tiger in effect goes to everything
in the tiger's domain, regardless of stature.
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