Life with Dylan

Category: tigers

  • 6 Ways you can support Global Tiger Day

    This Sunday is Global Tiger Day – a day of celebration for one of the world’s most beautiful cats.
    A day created to raise awareness for the tigers and for people around the world to support the conservation efforts being made to save the tigers.

    Christopher, a Malayan tiger at the San Diego Zoo

    As I have said before, one person can make a difference. Here are a few ways that you can help support Global Tiger Day and raise awareness for the tigers.

    Most importantly, spread the word and create awareness!


    Share what you will doing to celebrate and support Global Tiger Day in the comments below. 



  • Why conservation is important to me

    Everyone has something they hold close to their heart. Something they are passionate about and that somehow connects with them on a personal level. As you have probably figured out, I am passionate about conservation and preserving what the earth has to offer for our future generations. 

    We recently lost an animal known as Lonesome George. He was the last of his species and now my family will never get to see this La Pinta Island giant tortoise. When my son and I read about this loss, we cried. Some may think crying over an animal you’ve never met is ridiculous. Others may think there are hundreds of other Galapagos tortoises – you see them at the zoo. These are the people that don’t get it. They don’t get the big picture and I would say that only a third of them ever will.

    I will probably live longer than the Northern White Rhino species. My sons children will probably never get a chance to see a Northern White Rhino. Why? Because these animals are hunted and killed … Just as the tigers and elephants are hunted and killed. When I read stories about this in the news, like the one I read today, it makes me sad and angry. I sit here racking my brain trying to figure out how I can help. These animals can’t talk. They can’t ask for help. So it is up to people like me, people who call themselves conservationist, to bring awareness to others about the plight of these animals and the importance of keeping them alive. Not just for our children and grandchildren to see, but for the survival of the animal world.

    When I see a picture of an endangered animal or one at the zoo or read a sign at the zoo that says only 39 left in the wild, I literally stop and catch my breath. These animals are so beautiful and I fear that too many people take them for granted.

    Don’t assume that because you can see an animal at a zoo today it will still be there in 20 years. Zoos educate us about the animals and let us see them up close, but the best way to ensure a species survival is for the species to thrive in the wild.

    Once you come face to face with an endangered animal, you will do whatever it takes to save them. I am proud to call myself a conservationist. I will continue to be an advocate for the environment and wildlife because one person can and does make a difference.

    Con·ser·va·tion·ist
    Noun: A person who advocates or acts for the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife.

  • Birthday wishes really do come true

    Tomorrow is Dylan’s 9th birthday and all he wanted for his birthday was to raise $1,000 for the tigers at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. He wanted to help save the species from extinction and build a new home for them called Tiger Trail.

    As you probably know, Dylan had various fundraisers, recycled cans and bottles, saved all of his allowance money, and many people donated money in his name. Some people I know and some who donated are complete strangers who found Dylan’s story and donated through social media links.

    I am very happy to report that as of today Dylan has raised $1,317 for Tiger Trail.

    (and that’s not including birthday money that I know is coming in the mail still from family)

    Tomorrow we will be spending the day at the Safari Park and meeting some big cats, including the tigers, up close on a Behind the Scenes Safari Tour that we won from the Pin It For Tigers contest last month.  The perfect birthday as far as Dylan is concerned.

    Although Dylan has met his goal, the tigers still need our help. For the Safari Park to receive the anonymous donation of $9 million, they must raise $2 million on their own.

    This is a screen shot from the Safari Parks website showing how much they have raised so far. As you can see, they are almost halfway there.

    Whether you make a donation in Dylan’s name or just go to the Tiger Trail Challenge website makes no difference to me. What matters is that you donate. For every $2 that is donated, the park receives $9 – which means Dylan’s $1,217 is actually $5,476. That is pretty amazing if you ask me.

    The Safari Park has until December 31, 2012 to meet the $2 million goal.

    Dylan and I will continue to send money because this is something that we both believe in.
    For all of you who donated in Dylan’s name and  helped make his birthday wish come true …

    THANK YOU!



  • The kindness and generosity of a stranger that I will never forget

    Two weeks ago I received an email from someone I didn’t know. I met them a few days later, for a brief moment, and all I could do was smile and say thank you for your kindness and generosity – this means so much to me. Actually, I think I said thank you about 5 times.

    Here is the email:

    Hi Michelle,
    I just read Dylan’s story in the Newport Beach Independent. I think his dedication to his dreams and concern for wildlife at such a young age is not only admirable but, inspirational.
    Given his passion for Tigers, I have something he might be interested in having. It’s a beautifully framed picture of a tiger (believe it’s a Bengal or Malayan – not sure). It’s a print by a well known artist, Jouve. It measures about 30” x 45 or so.
    It retails for about $140 online. I’ve had it listed on Craigslist for $45 but, frankly that site brings out people who aren’t serious or who make an initial inquiry but never respond back. I thought given the excellent condition and low price, I’d surely find a buyer but, I didn’t.
    I then saw Dylans great story this am…. I’d like to give it to him, or you can give it to him as a gift yourself (doesn’t matter to me), no charge. Given his passion for Tigers, I think he might enjoy having it?
    I’ve attached some pics of the painting. If you think he might be interested in it, please let me know. I’m local in Corona del Mar. Thank you.


    The picture now hangs in our living room.
    Tigre Royal
    I may never see this person again, but I will remember them forever. This gift means more than any amount of money donated for Dylan’s birthday wish because this gift came from the heart. This gift is priceless.
    Pierre-Paul Jouve was an acclaimed sculptor and illustrator – he is known for his depiction of big cats and for illustrating a French edition of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Some of his work can be seen in the National Museum of Wildlife Art, located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

  • Protect the environment and donate your used cell phones

    Dylan will be collecting used cell phones from June 25 through July 10, 2012


    Once his box is full, he will be sending the phones to the fundraising company and they will send him a check for the phones based on their market value price list. Every phone is worth something and every little bit will help him reach his goal of $1,000



    Cell phone facts:

    ·Over
    100 million cell phones are stockpiled in U.S. households creating 50,000 tons
    of potentially hazardous waste.

    ·On
    average Americans replace their cell phones every 12-18 months. An estimated
    130 million cell phones are discarded annually in the U.S. alone.

    ·Cell
    phones contain toxic substances including Arsenic, Antimony, Beryllium,
    Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc which leach into soil and groundwater
    and form toxins during incineration which have been associated cancer and a
    range of reproductive, neurological and developmental disorders.

    ·The
    cadmium from a single cell phone is capable of polluting 158,200 gallons of
    water. (That’s 2.4 million 8-ounce sodas!)

  • We Pinned It For Tigers – and we Won!

    As you may know, about a month ago I started a Pinterest board to create awareness and spread the word about the plight of the tigers. This board was created to enter a contest put on by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park as part of their 40th Anniversary and Endangered Species Day. Little did I know that by creating this board I would find a new love for these big cats and spark a fire in my son’s heart as well.

    Dylan’s reaction to winning.

    Last week, the top three boards were announced on the San Diego Zoo Safari Parks Facebook page and we were one of them. Now it was up to the fans to vote and select a winning board. The grand prize was a Behind the Scenes Tour to meet the big cats of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Thanks to fan votes, we won the contest!

    I was so excited that I called Dylan’s teacher and asked if I could come share the good news with him during class. When I walked in the room, his eyes began to water. He knew why I was there. After sharing the story with his classmates, they all applauded and began asking him how they could help too.

    When creating my Pinterest board, I didn’t want just pictures of tigers – I wanted to show more. I found pictures of tiger cakes, tiger jewelry, artwork, and more importantly pictures that truly showed the plight of the tigers. These animals are being hunted by poachers in such a cruel manner. This is what I wanted to show, and in the process I was brought to tears. I found a new love for tigers that I was able to share and hopefully inspire others to share too.

    Our Pin It For Tigers Board

    Shortly after starting the Pin it for Tigers board, Dylan and I visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for Endangered Species Day. This is when Dylan found his love for tigers and decided to do his part.

    Together, Dylan and I will continue to share our love for tigers and all other endangered species – because we now know that even one person, no matter how old, can make a difference.

    Photo courtesy of World Wildlife Fund

  • Dylan’s Birthday Wish for the Tigers

    Dylan has always loved animals and over the past year his love has become more of a way of life. He would rather watch documentaries about animals than cartoons and has been collecting animal reference books since before he could even read. Adopting animals is second nature to him and he wants to be a zookeeper when he grows up.

    Knowing this about him, it should not have surprised me when he told me what he wanted for his 9th birthday – yet what he said took my breath away and was probably the proudest moment in my life as his mother. On a recent visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for Endangered Species Day, we had the opportunity to meet Joan Embery and hear her speak about the wonderful conservation efforts that have been made over the past 40 years.

    Dylan listened so intently to every word said. I do believe he stopped breathing for a moment when she announced that an anonymous donation was being made to the new Tiger Trail in the amount of $9 million. However, there was a catch. They must raise $2 million by the end of 2012 to get the $9 million. He turned to me and said, “Mom, I want to help too”

    At this moment there was no doubt in my mind that he was sincere. After reading about the new Tiger Trail and seeing sketches of what the exhibit would look like when completed, it was time to start planning. When Dylan learned that making a $1,000 donation would allow him to have his name inscribed along with other Tiger Trail Sponsors on a recognition plaque at the entrance to the new exhibit his eyes lit up.

    I explained this was a lot of money – then he surprised me again. “Mom, I don’t want birthday presents or a party. I just want money to help the tigers” …
    Wow! Did this just come out of an 8-year old child’s mouth?

    I told him if he was going to ask people for donations to help him reach his goal that they would want to know why this was so important to him. So I asked him a few questions.

    Why do you want to help build Tiger Trail?
    “Because the tigers need a safe home to live. They can’t do anything about the poachers who want to kill them in the wild. Tiger Trail will give them more freedom and more room to play and interact with others.”

    What will it mean to you to have your name inscribed on a plaque at the new exhibit?
    “Everything! It will mean everything to me. It will make me very, very happy and proud because it means that I helped the tigers and made a difference in their lives.”

    So there you have it. Dylan’s birthday wish is to donate $1,000 to Tiger Trail. 

    I contacted the Zoological Society of San Diego to see what could be done. An honorarium has been established in Dylan’s name and all donations made through this link, with the information entered as explained below, will be credited to him. By selecting Dylan Fryer as the honoree and making a donation through this link, you will be helping Dylan and the tigers, plus your donation to the Zoological Society of San Diego is tax-deductible.

    Dylan will only receive credit for your donation if his name is entered as the honoree and Tiger Trail is selected as the gift designation. 

    Here is a screen shot of the donation page with instructions for the Honorary donation.

    Honoree: Dylan Fryer
    Send notification to: Michelle Fryer

    Dylan’s birthday is in July and his goal is to raise the $1,000 by July 31st.

    As a special thank you, Dylan will be sending a set of tiger note cards (handmade from pictures I took of the tigers at the San Diego Zoo) to everyone who donates $25 or more.

    In order to protect the privacy of the donors, the Zoological Society of San Diego is unable to release any personal information to me; including donation amount, email address, and mailing address. If you have made a donation of $25 or more and would like the note cards, please email me your name and mailing address to mlynnfryer@gmail.com

    Thank you for helping make a birthday wish come true for Dylan and for the Tigers of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

    I would like give special thanks to Liane, from the Zoological Society of San Diego, for all of her help in setting up the donations and tracking the donations made in Dylan’s honor.




    *Update*
    Dylan’s story appeared on the front page of the Newport Beach Independent on June 22, 2012.

  • I have a new found love for tigers

    Sure, I have always liked tigers. They rank high on my list of favorite cats with leopards, jaguars, and lions. The size and strength of these animals alone amazes me and their eyes always seem to tell a story. I knew that tigers were an endangered species, but it wasn’t until I started a board on Pinterest that I realized how critical their fate was.

    The board started as a simple contest sponsored by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. As part of the 40th anniversary celebration, people can start a tiger-themed board on Pinterest called Pin It For Tigers for a chance to win a Behind-the-Scenes Safari for two and meet some of these big cats up close. I thought this would be a great surprise for Dylan if I actually won.  It started as simply pinning pictures of tigers – then I started really looking at the pictures, the amazing photography, and how beautiful these animals actually are.

    Before I knew it, I was spending hours each night reading blogs and websites about how the tigers are vanishing at increasing rates. Some of the pictures I saw actually brought me to tears.

    How could a human being do this to an animal. An animal that has done nothing wrong. The tigers are not killed in self-defense. The tigers are not killed because they are attacking people. They are killed for their skins, fur, and bones because some cultures actually believe that tigers can provide medicinal healing. Tigers are not medicine.

    Tigers are not shot, they are trapped in snares so not to damage the pelt. Aside from stopping the poachers and illegal trading of tiger parts, you can do something to help save the tigers. You can stop buying products that are made by destroying the tigers natural habitat. Buy sustainable coffee that is certified Fair Trade and does not destroy the rain forests. Buy the Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamps and create awareness.You can donate to local zoos who support conservation and help in their efforts to save the tigers.

    Photograph I took of a Malayan tiger at the San Diego Zoo last month

    Awareness is what it really boils down to. Making people aware of something will cause a reaction. To think that the beautiful Malayan tigers I see at the San Diego Zoo are a rare sight (there are only about 500 Malayan tigers left in the wild) and that future generations may never have the chance to see these animals, or photographs of these animals in the wild breaks my heart. The Safari Park has Sumatran tigers and there are only about 400 of these tigers left in the wild. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are as few as 3,200 tigers left in the wild. That’s not a lot – considering the size of the planet.

    So sure, I would love to win the contest and take Dylan on a Behind-the-Scenes Safari to see the tigers up close – but I can always pay for a Behind-the-Scenes Tour. More importantly, I would love to create a spark of hope within you, a little inspiration to share what I have shared with you. Conservation is the key to saving tigers and all endangered species – and conservation starts with awareness. You can make a difference. 


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