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| ilaohu.org |
| The "love of tigers" website. |
By Peter Li
There's a new website on the block in China’s ever-expanding cyberspace. The site, http://www.ilaohu.org (“ilaohu” meaning love of tigers in Chinese), has appeared at an important juncture in China’s efforts to protect tigers. China is at the end of its committed 15-year moratorium on tiger trade ban, and business interests for use of parts of farmed tigers have stepped up their relentless lobbying efforts. This “love of tigers” website is no doubt a collective response by Chinese animal advocates to that undercurrent.
Features
The “love of tigers” website is a valuable information warehouse. “Tiger News” presents readers with the latest news stories on tiger protection, illegal trade, and tiger-related debates. “Tiger Opinion,” an online public forum, has already attracted reader input, some of which is quite encouraging. “Tiger Knowledge” includes information on tiger species, habitat, natural behaviors and conservation. Relevant international conventions, Chinese laws and investigative reports are also accessible on this section of the site.
“Tiger Culture” introduces readers to folklore, artifacts, relics, and folk customs relating to tigers. Here, readers will learn that China’s first emperor Qinshihuang and modern China’s founding father Dr. Sun Yatsen were both born in the Year of the Tiger. The many art objects and classical paintings on display demonstrate that tigers have long been a popular subject for artists in China and around the world.
Design
The design of the site is no small achievement. Like many good websites in China, this “love of tigers” site is a visual feast. Chinese characteristics are evident throughout the pages, making the site attractive to Chinese web surfers. The small multimedia window on the homepage features Fan Zhiyi, China’s most famous soccer player, and Maurice Greene, an American Olympic medalist. Their speeches are powerful and soul-stirring. They send a strong message about the need to protect tigers and, for that purpose, to eliminate markets for tiger parts.
As an interactive venue, the “love of tigers” site guides viewers to its membership page, an online survey and two download options. The Chinese advocates and the site designers have created an online spectacle that is informative, persuasive, and artistically appealing. There is little doubt that the site will have a positive impact. Already, it has attracted the attention of most top Chinese media organizations such as the official Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, and the People’s Daily, to name just a few.
