Once the tiger roamed in numbers over 100,000. Today the species is reduced to an estimated population of less than 5,000. To dramatize the plight of this magnificent creature, a well-known author of nature books has written a colorful life-cycle story about the adventures of a typical male Bengal tiger.

Rajpur is born in the forests of southern Nepal. As cubs, he and his sister, Rani, accompany their mother on her hunts, learning from her how to survive in the wild. When Rajpur is six months old, he sees his father killed by hunters; a year later his mother is shot to death and his sister dies when an infection leaves her easy prey. Now a young adult and alone, Rajpur must seek his own hunting territory and a mate.

Drawing on his wide knowledge of modern wild life, Robert McClung offers here a sensitive account of the problems faced by an endangered animal, concluding with an informed report on its present status. Stunning duotone illustrations portray the hero and his family in all their awesome majesty.

From the dust jacket