Sleek, powerful, and mysterious, the tiger has been feared and revered by civilizations since before antiquity. The largest and most recognized of the big cats, this beautiful and critically-endangered creature remains an iconic symbol of strength and courage. The national animal of Malaysia, South Korea, Bangladesh, and India, it is perhaps in China that the richest representations, traditions, and legends related to the tiger originate. In Western culture, too, the tiger has acquired mythical and legendary status through art, literature, and cinema.
Click through and find out more about the tiger's cultural and aesthetic appeal.