Book excerpt: Before the 1900s, hundreds of thousands of wild tigers roamed Southeast Asia. Their beauty, fierceness, and intelligence inspired fear and awe in their human neighbors. These peoples gave the tiger starring roles in folktales and mythology. Human fascination with tigers continues. Unfortunately, the tiger may not survive in the wild much longer. Researchers estimate that fewer than 2,500 tigers remain in their natural habitat. As the human population explodes in Southeast Asia, the wild tiger population pays the price. Can the wild tiger be saved by its only natural enemy, people?