12×18 watercolor on rough watercolor paper. Original available. As of 04-02-12, 1263 views and 15 favorited.

This one came out without my usual angst.. thank goodness!

CHALLENGES: Big Cats Group – Top 10; REDemption – Eyes – Top 10;
FEATURES: Tiger, Tiger; Just Watercolors; Photo Realistic Artwork; Redemption; the Virtual Museum; Cats and Dogs; Welcome to the Jungle;

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tiger found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500 animals, occurring predominantly in the island’s national parks. Recent genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, indicating that it may develop into a separate species, if it is not made extinct. This has led to suggestions that the Sumatran tiger should have greater priority for conservation than any other subspecies. Habitat destruction is the main threat to the existing tiger population (logging continues even in the supposedly protected national parks), but 66 tigers were recorded as being shot and killed between 1998 and 2000—nearly 20% of the total population.
Habitat and conservation effort The Sumatran tiger is only found in Sumatra, a large island in western Indonesia. It lives anywhere from lowland forests to mountain forest and inhabit many unprotected areas. Only about 400 live in game reserves and national parks and the rest are spread out in areas that are quickly being lost to agriculture. The reserves are not safe because despite conservation efforts, many tigers are killed by poachers each year.
In 2007, The Indonesian Forestry Ministry and Safari Park have established cooperation with the Australian Zoo for the conservation of Sumatran tigers and other endangered species. The cooperation agreement was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent on ‘Sumatran Tiger and other Endangered Species Conservation Program and the Establishment of a Sister Zoo Relationship between Taman Safari and Australian Zoo’, at the Indonesian Forestry Ministry office, on July 31, 2007.
The programs to be carried out would include a program to conserve Sumatran tigers and other endangered species in the wild, efforts to reduce conflicts between tigers and humans, and a program to rehabilitate Sumatran tigers and reintroduce them to their natural habitat (info from Wikipedia).

• Complete 11-22-2007 in 4.54 hours spread over 2 days.