The ancestor of the tiger flourished in Siberia 40 million years ago. Throughout Asia it has been revered as a god and protector of the forest, and has coexisted with native people in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect. The impact of Western civilization has virtually destroyed that balance. The tiger has reached a crisis. This magnificent creature faces extinction if man fails to recognize that recent conservation efforts have failed and that the future of the tiger lies in the hands of the people whose land it shares, and has always shared. Drawing on 16 years' association with Ranthambhore National Park in India, Valmik Thapar has written a book about the tiger - past, present and future. It is a celebration of this glorious predator, but more importantly it is a cry for help.