No, it’s not what you think. Tigers are not in any danger. The British media is reporting all kinds of odd news tid-bits in the wake of the recent Kent banknote robbery, and someone must have thought a “law of the jungle” reference would be fitting. Bruce Schneier did a nice job highlighting a dramatic piece in the Times:
It did not take gelignite to blow open the vaults; it took fear, in the hostage technique known as “tiger kidnapping”, so called because of the predatory stalking that precedes it.
Now what do we call it when some kidnaps a tiger? Or maybe that doesn’t happen very often, so there’s little chance of confusion. Personally, I’m glad the topic of tigers came up since it has been a while since I had a chance to read about their predatory practices. The Chris Brunskill photography site has a nice three-part review of a tiger stalking as it unfolds in real life, but the best part is where he shows the target narrowly escaping:
Suffice to say, those 15-20 seconds are imprinted on my memory forever and it stands out as the single most exhilaring encounter I have ever had with wild tigers – No matter what you do, never give up.
Now how’s that for a reverse lesson in how to deal with terrorists and/or robbers?
The Tiger
by William Blake
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?