When we look at tigers today, we are looking at the survivors of a deeply fractured kingdom. At the dawn of the 20th century, nine distinct subspecies of tigers roamed the earth. Today, only six remain. The other three—the Caspian, Javan, and Bali tigers have vanished completely into the pages of history.

​The Caspian tiger was a legendary beast, roaming the vast reed beds and mountain forests from Turkey all the way to western China. They were heavily built, with thick, luxurious coats designed to withstand brutal winter snows. In ancient Rome, these magnificent animals were captured and brought to the Colosseum to fight in gladiatorial spectacles. Sadly, due to rapid habitat clearing and intensive hunting during the 19th and 20th centuries, the last Caspian tiger disappeared forever in the 1970s.

​Losing these magnificent creatures is a somber reminder of the fragility of our natural world.