Introduction: The Tiger’s Elusive Past

The tiger, one of the world’s most iconic and majestic creatures, has captured the imagination of people for centuries. Despite this, the tiger’s history and origins remain shrouded in mystery. It was not until the early modern period that the first written accounts of tigers began to appear, and it was even later still when the first scientific descriptions of the animal were made. Today, with the tiger facing a range of threats, it is more important than ever to understand its past and to work towards its conservation.

Early Accounts of Tiger Sightings

The earliest recorded sightings of tigers come from ancient civilizations in India and China, where the animals were considered symbols of power and strength. However, it was not until the age of exploration that Europeans began to encounter tigers in their travels. The first written account of a tiger sighting by a European was made by Niccolo de’ Conti, an Italian explorer who visited India in the early 15th century. Conti described tigers as “terrible beasts” that were feared by the local people. Other early accounts of tigers come from European traders and missionaries who visited Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries. These accounts helped to establish the tiger’s reputation as a fearsome and mysterious animal.