The Emperor. Art by S. Morrissey, from Loaf Tarot.
The Emperor is the ruler of the world, with all the glittering universe laid at their feet. The beautiful Sumatran (or Sunda) tigers are the crown emperors of their island jungles. Traditionally holding a globe and scepter (here, a wreath of ixora flowers), the Emperor is a card representing structure, responsibility, leadership, and power.
But the Sumatran tiger is the very last of the island-dwelling tigers; the Javan and Bali tigers were hunted to extinction. Reversed, this card can mean loss of stability, lack of discipline, and the destruction of kingdoms. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered as their last jungles are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations.
"Today, the last tiger subspecies and probably my favorite one: the Sumatran Tiger. While working on this animal, I discovered that it has several notable visual differences from other subspecies of tigers. One of the most striking is the length and density of its mane, which gives it an even more majestic appearance. Additionally, the tiger's stripes are thicker, creating a more vivid contrast in its coat.
I'm excited to share with you that I'll be releasing a poster featuring all the subspecies of tigers, including the Sumatran Tiger, very soon. Stay tuned for more updates!"
Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of all tiger subspecies and is currently listed as critically endangered with only about 400 individuals left in the wild. Unfortunately, the Javan and Bali tiger is now extinct. They were populations that belonged to this subspecies of tiger.
To preserve the Sumatran tiger, numerous programs are being conducted in zoos that have shown promising results.
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Credits:
Felids and Hyenas of the World: Wildcats, Panthers, Lynx, Pumas, Ocelots, Caracals, and Relatives. Dr. José R. Castelló
Photo Reference Credit:
Phil Le Cren
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I love tigers so much they just look like giant stuffed animals they’re so fluffy and thick like when they lie down they just look so silly I love them so much oh my god tigers are just so fucking good they are just perfect look at these guys whenever I feel particularly lazy I just feel like a big ol’ tiger lounging around