Friday, December 19, 2008

A Semi-Old Tiger

Amongst the family of the big cats, tigers are one of the few that lives a solitary life. It does seem odd that for a creature that's known as the King of the Jungle, these big pussycats do not know how to socialise. Or perhaps, it is in their nature.

To some, tigers are seen as aloof, distancing themselves from all other citizens of the jungle. Then again, perhaps due to his very nature, nothing is more correct than the opposite. After all, when one goes to meet another, even if the other is acknowledged as a king, one really do not wish to be served as the main course, do one? I mean, not everyone wants to be like the male specie of a black widow spider - the moment after she's sexually satisfied, the male is then served as the meal. Not quite like breakfast-in-bed, I think. But then...

Anyway, tigers normally live up to 26years in captivity and about half of that in the wild. Born with claws that at a later stage could rip through the tough hide of a wild buffalo or hog, they are basically nothing but real adorable while still suckling milk from their mother. After about 2 to two and a half years of in-house training, each grown cubs would need to search a turf or territory of their own. That, is where the real trouble begins.

In the wild, a male tiger would have a larger territory that would include several female turfs. But as mentioned, that's in the wild; a life some consider barbaric and...well, wild. These wild tigers now number less than 5,000 worldwide and are coming close to extinction due their shrinking habitat caused by human encroachment. Worse still, they are being hunted by some solely for the belief that their body parts contain aphrodisiac for humans. Hmm...not much different than the life of the black widow's male, is it? But that's in the wild. Now, more and more are being kept in a...shall we say, civilised manner? I mean, though the space may be limited, being fed daily like a royalty is not bad.

However, do not ever mistaken a captive tiger for a tame one. Never! For coarsing in their veins, are the blood of a ferocious animal that should never be taken for granted. Like the guy below.

Oops! My apologies. That picture above is of a kitten taken from Alin's blog. Somehow, when you need a real good picture to show your true self, you just can't find it! Sigh...

Anyway, in searching for his own turf, many a tiger travel far and wide, some even to distant lands. Still, there are those lucky individuals who just sit around and bide his time, quite like the very nature of a tiger in stalking a prey. Just as in hunting where a predator average out something like a measly one meal out of 8 or 9 attempts, likewise it is with the tiger who bides his time; many of them meet their maker first, leaving the territory open to others. Poor guys. One particular tiger however, is still holding on as best he can.

Still wild at heart, this tiger has been knocking on fate's door many times before only to be told he's on hold, while the queue keeps getting longer and longer and more younger and physically fitter males keep on pawing at his heels. And keeping all those beasts at bay, is no easy job for a tiger that may have passed his prime. For tonight, at the stroke of midnight, this tiger officially turn 46. And still, that spot of sunlight, that place in the sun, that moment would lead him to greater heights, eludes him.

ROAR! Said the tiger!

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Would you please convey to this tiger that likes to 'talk only' Happy Birthday for me. I guess it must have been roaming in the wrong jungle searching for a mate.

hey, just pounce and bite man.

Mat Salo said...

Slamet Ultah, bro'.. Hey, I'm more tua than you by almost a year, ha ha. Betul kata Chegu... Jangan jadi kucing yang tolak ikan!

cakapaje said...

Salam Cikgu,

Conveyed. And the tiger said thank you in return. He also said its just not about mates and mating, but life itself. And he said he's been pouncing and biting. Apparently, there were times when he bit on a steel bar or 2 :)

cakapaje said...

Salam MS,

Slamet Ultah? Hmm...must be some kind of tiger talk, lol!

Wei bro, mana ada kucing tolak ikan? Cuma, well, agaknya kucing ni pi memancing kat south pole kut. Pi buat fishing hole tengah continent tu, dah lebih 20 tahun menggali masih tak jumpa ayaq...jenuh! :)

Roti Kacang Merah said...

Noooo... are you The Tiger celebrating his birthday today???

well Labu, Labi, hubby and I will be damned!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABG SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! Semoga apa yang dirancangkan di dalam hidup untuk dunia *winks winks* dan akhirat dapat disempurnakan, ya...?

*winks winks winks* alamak sakit mata la pulak *winks winks winks*

ngeeeeee

Anonymous said...

Heeheehee...selamat hari ulang tahun!

cakapaje said...

Salam Alin,

Hehe, kenapa, tak percaya ka? But thank you for the wish.


ps. Think you need eye-mo for your eyes, lol!

cakapaje said...

Salam E,

Ketawa lak dia. But thanks E :)

rerama salju said...

Happy 46th B'day tiger!better late than never kan?pheww!!wink-wink!

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam rs,

Thank you. Er...late untuk apa tu? Hehe :)

raina said...

Happy Burp Day, mate!!
awet muda la..
macam 30-an aje..
pass la cake tu sikit..
makan sowang2.

cakapaje said...

Salam raina,

Hehe...awet muda ek? Oritelah cam tu. Kalau jumpa nanti, saya suruh kerpie belanja teh tarik, bab dia hutang saya 2 gelas teh tarik! :)

CelloTape said...

Happy Belated Birthday Bro...

Errr...my present mana??? hiks!

cakapaje said...

Salam Cello,

Thank you :)

Nak present? Meh, turun KL ;)

CelloTape said...

turun KL ka??

insyallah...tapi demand bleh??

mo tazz besar cam u...oppsss...

hahahaha...

cakapaje said...

Cello,

Nak tazz besar cam I, eh? Senang aje, ambik I je lah :)