The problem may seem far away, but there are steps you can take to help the Asian elephant and Bengal tiger survive into the next century and beyond:


1. Get smart about Asian Elephants and Bengal Tigers.
Learning more about Asian elephants and Bengal tigers is the first step toward appreciating the species and understanding their plight. A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® performance offers a unique opportunity for you to experience Asian elephants and Bengal tigers up close.
   Your local zoo may also have an Asian elephant or Bengal tiger exhibit. If you can't visit an elephant or tiger for yourself, the Internet is a great resource for facts and figures about Asian elephants and Bengal tigers. Check out the following sites:

Columbus Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Have Trunk Will Travel
Indianapolis Zoo
Lion Safari
National Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife on Easy Street
Woodland Park Zoo


2. Support the efforts of animal conservation groups.
There are a number of respected conservation organizations working to protect the Asian elephant and Bengal tiger and to educate the public about their plight:

Wildlife Trust
World Wildlife Fund
Friends of the Asian Elephant
International Elephant Foundation


3. Support the federal Asian Elephant Conservation Fund.
Write to your representative and senators to support funding for the Asian Elephant Conservation Act. Ringling Bros. teamed with conservation organizations to support this Act, which will assist in the conservation of Asian elephants by supporting and providing financial resources to conservation programs within the Asian elephant range states, where funds are desperately needed to help this species.
   The Act was signed into law in 1997 and established the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund. The fund is a project of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and comes up for funding annually.