International Tiger Day falls on 29 July annually and this year Tiger Trailers set its sights on supporting wild tiger conservation charity Tigers4Ever by raising awareness and funds for their vital work in protecting these beautiful but endangered ‘apex’ creatures that both organisations share a passion for.
The TV screens and noticeboards around Tiger Trailers’ site were dedicated to tiger-related statistics, captivating stories of tigers in the wild, and information on Tigers4Ever’s activities, which are aimed at giving wild tigers a wild future by eliminating tiger deaths due to poaching, poisoning or retaliatory attacks, with their work primarily focussed on India.
A raffle was held, with prizes including a massive plush tiger over 2m in length (almost matching the size of the life-size plush tiger called Bamera, which Tiger Trailers also purchased from the charity), two crates of Tiger Beer, Nikon binoculars, a BBC book full of tiger photography, a couple of smaller tiger teddy bears, a box of Kelloggs Frosties, and a loaf of tiger bread. Additionally, a beautiful limited edition 1 of 150 painting by artist David Pritchard was auctioned off to sealed bidders. Tiger Trailers’ team efforts raised over £1,000 to support Tigers4Ever, and a number of the employees enjoyed listening to fascinating tales from India.
Helen Sawyer, a trustee of Tigers4Ever, comments: “We loved sharing International Tiger Day with Tiger Trailers and raising money to keep tigers safe in the wild where they belong. Tiger Trailers and their people were welcoming to Donna and I, and generous. Thanks for being great hosts yesterday. We’re very grateful for everything you’ve facilitated so far. A great partnership in the making – we love the fact you love tigers almost as much as do!”
Tigers4Ever established a first of its kind Buffer Zone poaching patrol to address the fact that 90-95% of all wild tiger deaths due to poaching or poisoning occur in the buffer forests. To date, the neighbouring Cheshire-based charity has provided educational resources for 3400 children living in 32+ villages around Bandhavgarh enabling each child to attend school for at least 1 year. They have also provided over 12,000 pieces of vital equipment for anti-poaching patrols protecting wild tigers, including bicycles, uniforms, fresh-drinking water tanks, waterproof clothing, warm clothing, sturdy boots, first aid kits, treated mosquito nets, waterproof high quality head-torches and batteries, water bottles, sturdy canes, snake rescue, capture and release kits.
Visitors to Tiger Trailers’ boardrooms will have seen the large tiger canvases proudly displayed on the walls of each meeting room, respectively named Bengal, Siberian and Sumatran after sub-species. As part of its collaboration with Tigers4Ever, these canvases will shortly be replaced with all-new prints of photographs taken by Tal Chohan, another trustee of the charity.
When Tiger Trailers opened the doors of its original manufacturing plant in 2014, tiger imagery proliferated in all manner of places, from the obvious corporate stationery and vehicles right through to cushions, wall art and statues. The same is even more true of the purpose-built site Tiger Trailers relocated to in 2018, with an array of other tiger items popping up in all manner of places. Visitors and staff are greeted in reception by a life-size fibreglass tiger called Alan after the founders’ late father, followed by a number of tiger paintings on the walls, before they are amazed to meet the company’s six-foot mascot, Tiger Ted, who was born in 2021 when the HGV trailer and truck bodywork manufacturer’s community, charity and inclusivity activities commenced with aplomb, starting with the launch of the Tiger Safety Team. The tiger theme even extends to the firm’s events, with artificial grass and wooden tables often used for its exhibition stands, while all meeting rooms are named after tigers, including Tigger for a bit of fun.
Alison Cartwright, Tiger Trailers’ CSR Manager, says: “With a genuine love of tigers, and wowed by Tal’s stunning photographs and the work Tigers4Ever does to support these beautiful creatures in the wild, it was an easy decision for Tiger Trailers to begin supporting Tigers4Ever, starting with a fundraiser and awareness event on Global Tiger Day 2024. We are sure that visitors to our site will be stunned by the new canvases, and we look forward to continuing to identify ways in which we can support Tigers4Ever going forwards”.
Increasingly known in the sector for its CSR activities, Tiger works with The Prince’s Trust, Veterans Into Logistics and various other charities as a member of Cheshire Community Foundation. The manufacturer also promotes Women in Transport as a corporate member, teaches road safety in schools, and involves itself with a growing number of inclusivity and diversity initiatives.