There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
01-27-2018, 07:52 AM( This post was last modified: 01-27-2018, 08:12 AM by peter )
PANTHERA TIGRIS AMOYENSIS - N
1 - Introduction
Just over a century ago, in 1916, Roy Chapman Andrews, working in the American Museum of Natural History in new York, planned an expedition to the mountains of what was then known as the Thibetan frontier and Yunnan. After talking to Captain T. Holcomb of the US Marine Corps, he contacted an American missionary stationed in what was then Futsing (in Fujian Province) in southeast China. His name was Harry Caldwell.
Caldwell wrote about a very strange tiger operating in southeast China. This tiger, seen by Caldwell on two occasions, wasn't yellow but blue. Maltese blue, to be precise. Although Chapman Andrews wasn't convinced, he decided to accept the invitation. Before he left for China, he contacted William T. Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Park in the Bronx. As he wanted the " ... only blue tiger in the world ... ", Hornaday had a trap especially made for Chapman Andrews.
In China, Caldwell took him to a narrow ravine: " ... This is where the blue tiger lives ... ". The two goats bleated all afternoon, but the tiger only showed himself just before dusk. Chapman Andrews only had " ... one fleeting glimpse ...", but he saw it was really blue. They didn't get the tiger thast day, but a day later the tiger killed a dog in a village four miles away. The trap Hornaday had made was set, but the tiger managed to get the dog out without touching anything.
Three days later, the blue tiger was surprised by a dozen fuel gatherers. The enraged animal leaped to its feet, dashed into the group and killed 3 men with his great paws. Caldwell and Chapman Andrews waited for him near one of the dead man. They only saw his vague outline on the opposing slope before he retreated. It was the last time Chapman Andrews saw the tiger, as he fell ill. After he had recovered from the heat stroke, he left for Hong Kong to outfit the expedition along the Thibetan frontier.
Caldwell later wrote he had seen the tiger one more time. He actually touched the nose of the tiger when he fell just in front of him (...). For some reason, the tiger, who had killed 19 humans, decided against an attack. He never saw the blue tiger again.
2 - Maps
Futsing is in the north of Fujian Province, close to the coast. It's just north of Taipeh on the isle of Taiwan and about halfway between Sjanghai and Hong Kong.
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
3 - 'The Trail of the Blue Tiger'
Here's the story. I don't know when it was written, but I do know it was published in 1950 in an American magazin. Could have 'True Magazin', but I could be wrong. In order to prevent confusion: I posted the story on AVA a number of years ago.