Blood of the tiger - Judy A Mills

Blood of the Tiger takes readers on a wild ride to save one of the world's rarest animals from a band of Chinese billionaires.


Many people think wild tigers are on the road to recovery, but they are in greater danger than ever-from a menace few experts saw coming.

There may be only three thousand wild tigers left in the entire world. More shocking is the fact that twice that many-some six thousand-have been bred on farms, not for traditional medicine but to supply a luxury-goods industry that secretly sells tiger-bone wine, tiger-skin dcor, and exotic cuisine enjoyed by China's elite.


Two decades ago, international wildlife investigator J. A. Mills went undercover to expose bear farming in China and discovered the plot to turn tigers into nothing more than livestock. Thus begins the story of a personal crusade in which Mills mobilizes international forces to awaken the world to a conspiracy so pervasive that it threatens every last tiger in the wild.


In this memoir of triumph, heartbreak, and geopolitical intrigue, Mills and a host of heroic comrades try to thwart a Chinese cadre's plan to launch billion-dollar industries banking on the extinction of not just wild tigers but also elephants and rhinos. Her journey takes her across Asia, into the jungles of India and Nepal, to Russia and Africa, traveling by means from elephant back to presidential motorcade, in the company of man-eaters, movie stars, and world leaders. She finds reason for hope in the increasing number of Chinese who do not want the blood of the last wild tigers to stain their beloved culture and motherland.


Set against the backdrop of China's ascendance to world dominance, Blood of the Tiger tells of a global fight to rein in the forces of greed on behalf of one of the world's most treasured and endangered animals.

J. A. Mills has worked for TRAFFIC, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and Save the Tiger Fund. She is now a consultant to the MacArthur Foundation and lives in Washington, DC.

"A telling inside view of 20 years in international tiger conservation work, including the successes, failures and the work that is still required."
-Kirkus Reviews

"Readers become emotionally invested in Mills's message."
-Publishers Weekly

"[J. A. Mills] tells an absorbing insider story of trying to save truly wild tigers, a battle that is not yet won."
-Booklist

"If you love animals, you must buy this book. J. A. Mills exposes the trade in endangered animals with zest, verve, and outrage. A stunning read."
-J. Maarten Troost, author of Headhunters on My Doorstep and Lost on Planet China

"Blood of the Tiger is a heart-pounding read that takes us along on J. A. Mills's journey through the dark and sometimes dangerous realities of wildlife conservation. Mills is detective, double agent, and guide through a mapless labyrinth of politics, cultural differences, and the economics of greed and poverty. This book is a potent antidote to the despair and helplessness many of us feel observing the race to save tigers and other endangered species-a book that infuses one with renewed passion, determination, and hope."
-Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club


"By turns thrilling and sobering, Blood of the Tiger is an urgent, heroic book that takes you undercover and behind the scenes of today's global, multi-billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade. A must-read for conservationists and anyone concerned about the fate of wildlife on this planet."
-John Vaillant, author of The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival


"Blood of the Tiger may be the most important book you read this year. It will make your blood boil-but also make your heart sing. J. A. Mills's courageous and captivating investigation of the trade in tiger body parts reveals some sickening secrets, as well as showcasing fearless, creative heroes. Read this roller coaster of a book and take action for tigers-before it's too late."
-Sy Montgomery, author of Spell of the Tiger

"What an extraordinary, must-read book for anyone interested in international wildlife policy! From her seat at the center of it all, J. A. Mills has pulled back the curtain on the global effort to save the tiger and in doing so has given the world a primer for any effort to save the world's iconic species: tigers, elephants, rhinos, whales, and more. Endangered species need accountability. Blood of the Tiger makes those who got us here accountable."
-Bryan Christy, director of special investigations at National Geographic and author of The Lizard King

"Personal, engaging, shocking, informative. J. A. Mills exposes the dark secrets of the tiger trade and bares her soul, her passion, and her determination to bring about change. I believe there is still hope for wild tigers. Blood of the Tiger is real and raw, intelligent and compelling, and in the final analysis, a story that must not be ignored."
-Will Travers, OBE, president of the Born Free Foundation

"A memoir of triumph and heartbreak that aims to uncover the truth surrounding the threats to one of the world's most treasured and endangered animals."
-Your Cat magazine