Come on. Show youe sense of humor.
I can bet even Jezza did not know what he was writing. Theonly reason he wrote the story is to amuse you and laughed into tears when he saw your replies.
BTW, Chinese people are no longer the fans of tiger bones. Be wise and do som homework before you say or write anything.

lee, BJ,

Well said Jeremy. Well said. Those environ-mentalists have busted my bills with their "save the blue fish" "save the shark" save this and save this other. They seem to ignore that because we eat beef there are now on this planet many more cows than there would be if we did not eat them. And a part that, I think we should eat more carnivores, it would be fair, why do we only eat the poor peaceful sheep, goats, chickens, salmon, tuna and cows? Let's eat lions, tigers, sharks and any other animal who eats other animals, at least I would not feel guilty as I do when I eat a little goat or a lamb....they are so cute.....and they would not devour me ....oh yeah, it is true, like Alessandro Manzoni said, in this world, if you don't want to be fiddled, you have to fiddle....it's true.....so I am in favour of eating all the carnivores on this planet......it's right.....it is so right....

GAETANO PELLEGRINI, Slough, England

Jeremy Clarkson's views are his own; educated and brilliantly written. All of you who are so offended are kindly invited not to read them - that's your choice. The fact remains, however, that he is also correct. Extinction has been happening since life began, and is a direct result of an animal not beng able to adapt to changing cirumstances; be it increased hunting or a changing environment. The global warming saga currently playing out on the world's stage is a politically motivated one. Pollution taxes and many other increased costs to the consumer are within the governments grasp. The appeal is to the middle class, who think its a fabulous idea, so long as it doesn't affect them. So I am going to go on living normally, leaving my tv on stand-by, not giving a damn about the tigers.

Rick, Preston,

In the last 3 Billion years the continents have moved, the Earh has been struck by several asteriods, there have been enormous volcanic explosions, the planet's temperature has been both very much hotter and very much colder than now. Through all that time life has survived, though nearly all the species that have lived on the Earth are now extinct.

The evolutionary biologist that truly understands evolution through natural selection will view the present episode of human-induced mass extinction with equanimity. In time new species will fill vacant niches - species better adapted to co-exist with man. Neither the rat nor the cockroach will be going extinct any time soon.

If, through our interference, we make the planet less hospitable to man and/or wipe out some of the large mammals and birds that we find interesting and that contribute to the enjoyment of our lives, so much the worse for man .... but it is more hubris to think we can wipe out all life on Earth

Tom, Chorley, England

I have to say i am quite surprised how jeremy's article has affected so many people. If u think about it in the long run this article is just one mans view and almost everyone is taking offence. how childish! Jeremy Clarkson is the God of motor jounalism! He writes epic colomns and isnt displaying typical brit behaviour by being so reserved about his opinions. Personally i feel that the tigers are beautiful creatures and that it would be a shame for them to disapear, however the hunters do not know any different and it is so firmly in their culture that it would be extremely hard for them to change their ways. Mr clarkson beautiful article. Please continue to write coloums like this one as it is so funny to see how the brits take such offence to your comments! oh and write more books they are a fantastic read for the airport!!

Kiara Maher, Newbury, Berkshire

Haydn
There is a difference between man created extinction and natural extinction. It is pointless arguing over this. Jeremy Clarkson is clearly talking on behalf of the Chinese lobby that wants resumption of trade in tiger skin and bones etc. Someone else from my country, clearly representing the same lobby, recently wrote in this same newspaper on why farm raising of tigers should be allowed etc etc.
There seems to be a link between these two articles. I am really really surprised that the so called educated West has so many people who have such stupid ideas on conservation and extinction. We need to protect the tiger not because it is a cute animal or because it has tourism potential or because it has animal right to live. We need it to remain in the wild so that we all can live a little longer on this planet.

Sudipto Roy, Calcutta, India

Well I have to say that I agree with you on this one.
It certainly isnt a big deal. And no, the ecosystem wont implode on itself from the extinction a few tigers or moths or lesser spotted cod. The planet has suffered much faster extinctions than the slow smoggy one we see these days. The planet has been has been ravaged by meteors and supervolcanoes for millions of years, whats a bit of gas and a few horny guys really going to do. I think we are more likely to sort our eco-friendlyness over time, with technology and rising above this little hiccup in our technological progression. Bring on the fusion!!!

Haydn Lillywhite, Loughton, Essex

I am really aghast that such an article was conceived and then printed. I have nothing else to say.
I think it's about time someone stopped this man from wrecking further havoc to the environment at large and society in general.
I thought England teaches in its schools why wildlife is important (it has nothing to do with tourism or for my children to see) and what ecological balance means. I will have to cross check this assumption now.

sudipto roy, Calcutta, India

Hey JC, no one and i mean no one expresses my views as well as you do, please dont ever change. !

Gian Mastro, Peterborough, cambs

Leedle bit barmy here, Clarkson - there's more to the world than humans. While ecosystems rely on one species sometimes. If the ecosystem collapses, everything in it could go extinct - including us, if you care so much about humans. Why should the tiger go extinct just because a man can't get an erection, and the people can't be bothered to make a living without leeching off another species?

And it's impotence, not impotency.

Buzz, Dolj, Romania

I too usually agree with Mr C's refreshingly honest views, even to a point his less that tree-hugging views on global warming (I too don't believe that any action by developed nations will help in the face of massive growth elsewhere, only a major, globally significant even will force the required change), but in this case I have to disagree.

Correct, I've never seen most of the world's endangered species but that doesn't mean I don't care if they're there or not. I've not met Jeremy or his family either but I certainly wouldn't wish them any harm either.

I think the point is that while extinction has been going on throughout history, the fact is that until now it was natural selection, that does not apply now that mankind is involved.

The last time I saw one in the zoo, both tigers and polar bears looked quite well adapted and able to look after themselves providing we didn't get in the way...

Steve Gascoyne, London,

Can I just start by saying that it is highly unlikely you'll see a tiger in Africa, their habitat is in Asia.

I have to say Jeremy, I'm a huge fan of your work and programmes, and I mostly agree on your views, but clearly not in this case.

It's important to remember that we are not the only species on the planet, and whilst I'm not saying that humans should be the guardians of all of Planet Earth (after all, animals don't seem to care for us), however, we should see them as equals. They are merely humans in a different body. Therefore I'm poised to say that having such a disregard for other species which we share the planet is bigotism. Yes, I agree, species have been going extinct since the first blue-green algae first appeared 3.5 billion years ago, however, it's extremely rare in such a scale. I agree, however, the last time I checked, polar bears haven't climbed up the extinction ladder too much.

I agree however, we should be celebrating the discovery of a "hippy frog".

Han Zhao, Sandiacre, Nottinghamshire, UK

Hi

All very interesting but having read all this through I need some clarification about the Bees and the human race ending.

Does this mean swatting should be banned and soon?

Wardy, Basingstoke, HANTS

Thanks Clarkson, finally some truth...

D, Somewhere, UK

This article is just wilfully silly! But there is an underlying truth, in that 99% of all the species that have ever existed are extinct; and not very many of those had anything at all to do with man.

Adam Neilson, Birmingham,

"i saw a tiger for the first time last year in africa on holidays,"
Denis, Kerry, Ireland

Well done Denis though I hope you realise that the only reason you saw tigers in the wild in Africa is because they were introduced by humans. Talk about messing with nature. I hope someone asked the antelope how they felt about it.

Charlotte, Copenhagen,

Clarkson ... Devil's advocate ... ROFLMAO . What absolute rot . This article is typical Clarkson ! There is much more to playing D.A. than just showing you couldn't give two hoots ...

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Before you eco-mentalists start having a go, ever heard of playing devils advocate?

liz, Cambridge, UK

I love tigers, I love all animals actually. I also love Jeremy's columns.
But coming from South Africa, I see plenty of animals in the wild, we have about four large gamereserves within 20km of us.
I would miss the lion if it were to become extinct. So would our tourist industry. The thing is that here in South Africa, a great deal of income comes from tourists oggling at the wild dogs and leopard found at Kruger National Park.
Extinction for us would spell poverty

Desiree , Krugersdorp, Johannesberg

Clarkson should go away and learn about ecosystems. He should also examine why there will be no tigers soon.

When he does he will realise the impact , albeit indirect, the loss of spieces will have on him in his old age, his kids and grandchildren.

Simon, London,

As for Polish primitive horses, they are fine, thank you very much. You can easily see them in the wild is some of Poland's National Parks. I encourage you to do so :)
Where's the confusion from? In the 19th century, the prehistoric wild horse type - the Tarpan - died out. The modern Tarpan (referred to as the Polish primitive horse) is a genetic recreation of the original breed.
No matter what Mr. Clarkson thinks, biological diversity is important. And is worth fighting for, as did the Polish ecological activists (as well as scientists) for the Rospuda Valley - most valuable wetland area with unique plant life and rare animals, especially birds - is endangered by the plans of construction of the Augustow ring road.

K. Kukowska, Toruń, Poland

I'm inclined to agree with Jeremy.

I don't wish tigers any harm, but I've never seen one in the wild. I've seen the poor, miserable ones in zoos though, and I suspect that if you asked one of them whether it was happy to spend it's life in jail for the benefit of the gawping masses, it would say no.

The last tiger will neither know nor care that it's the last tiger, but at least no more tigers will be available for mankind to mistreat. As far as saving the planet is concerned - the hell with the planet. It will eventually shake off the human race as it does every irritant, and since I have no children and no desire to preserve pandas to 'edutain' other people's kids, I, for one, do not care. So there.

j griffiths, manchester, England

I certainly wouldn't shed any tears over the demise of the tiger or any other of the wild cat family, who have always struck me as particularly vicious and unpleasant animals. Not unlike some of the TV presenters who bounce around game reserves to coo with delight as their favourite pride of lions pull down an unfortunate zebra or buffalo before devouring it alive.

Simon Marshland, Bath, UK

Oh, and if the tiger goes extinct, all those poor poachers that fed their families from the profits will be out of a job. Shame. Although i think you should be aware that most poaching rings are run by rather weathly men. That;s how they manage to bribe the politicians to look the other way. They'll just retire, or find a new hobby to amuse themselves, so don't feel too sorry for them.

Lisa Clifforde, Swindon, WILTS

Jeremy, I love your car show, and your comments are hilarous!
Well, most of the time. This time, you are full of it!
Think about it in the car way! Would you like the Ferrari motor company to be extinct?! It is not really serving any purpose! Think about the tiger. A tiger in the wild is like ten thousand Ferrari Enzo, such is its awe! We invite you, to come to Bangladesh, go to the largest mangrove forest in the world, the Sunderbans (beautiful Jungle), and watch a tiger in the wild in the moonlit night! You will forget about every car that you had ever driven! When a tiger roars, the whole jungle shakes in its majesty, its like the thunder of God! If there is no tiger in the wild, it will definitely make us less of a human. We'll live, but a part of our existence will be gone. In my opinion, if we cease to be awed, we might as well not live. And that is why I'd love to have Ferrari making awesome driving machines, even though my chance of driving one is less remote than a tiger in

enam, dhaka, Bangladesh

Firstly, your kids dying isn't going to change my world so is it ok if i do nothing to make the uk a safer place for them? Can i stop paying my taxes because i don't care if other peoples children and unborn children have a pension, an education or public transport? If that's ok then i guess its fine that you don't mind about the tigers and polar bears. Each to their own. Personally i'd rather perserve diversity, it makes the world a more interesting place and let's face it we need more kids like we need a hole in the ozone layer. The world would manage perfectly well without our unborn children. What everyone fails to understand is that the entire ecosystem is linked together and if you get rid of one part of it (e.g. tigers) then the rest of it becomes unbalenced. Man has yet to invent a machine clever enough to fully predict the ramifications of one species extinction.

Lisa Clifforde, Swindon, WILTS

I think you'll find that if the north polar ice cap melts the sea levels will go down, same for the pack ice in Antarctica, it's only the stuff on dry land melting that causes sea levels to rise, basic boozology - put more ice in, the drink looks fuller so I can charge you more for less.

Dave, Den Haag,

Good idea, so long as you do the stuffing, I'll pay money to watch .

Jeff Pollitt, Stockport,

Best article of the year so far, though I hope the reference to "Innuits" rather than "Eskimos" isn't an example of a knee-jerk reaction to anti-Western cultural Marxism. We don't refer to Greeks as "Ellenes" and yet ours is hardly a disrespectful term for them. Nor am I offended to learn that the Welsh term for "Englishman" is apparently "Sais". I am not going to lecture them about it any more than they lecture me about the term "Welsh".

Kevin, London,

Well Louise, if bees die out it will be different won't it? It seems like bees have a direct impact on our lives then, which would mean that we will make an effort to keep on living (which is probably the most important thing) and thus either save the bees or invent something to fulfill the bees purpose.
I agree, the animals have just as much right to be here as we do. We have just as much right to be here as they do. And we have just as much right as they do to eat them... Sounds like a lot of rights. It's all about survival, might as well enjoy a nice 6ltr V8 on the way.

Leon, Johannesburg, South Africa

Whats next ? ... Shane Warnes' analysis of the G8 ?

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

I can scarcely believe that this article is linked in Times Recommended !!! What is happening to the Times ?

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

What an absolute selfish, stupid and immature thing to say.
Of course it matters if the tiger dies out.
We aren't the only species on this planet. We are but one of millions and all those other species have as much of a right to be here as we humans do.
Earth is so amazing because it supports such a diverse range of life.. and us humans are just destroying it.
If the tiger and polar bear die out you say it doesn't matter, but they are part of a bigger picture and it will upset the whole ecosystem in which they live.
Would you say the same thing about bees? If they die out it's estimated and predicted that humans would only be able to survive for another 6 years.
The natural world is amazing and we should protect it. Life just isn't about money and matieral items. And people like you need to realise that.

Louise, Edinburgh,

99 per cent of all species that have ever existed are now extinct. Nature doesn't care - or have none of you noticed?

All you sentimentalists are bleating about cuddly tigers and fluffy white bears - are you campaigning for slugs, millipedes and seasnakes?

Incidentally a tiger or polar bear, if it met you, wouldn't be impressed if you said you'd been campaigning for it - it would still kill you and eat you.

Terry Collmann, Teddington, England

So the polar bear becomes extinct because the polar ice cap disappears - this results in a rise in sea level so parts of the world become uninhabitable... because they're underwater. East Anglia may disappear, along with much of London...but we'd have to put the displaced people somewhere... GOT IT!!!! - Clarkson's garden - lets face it we could house a couple of dozen families in his car collection.....

And if his kids are careless enough to come face to face with a tiger on their gap years they're either in the wrong vehicle or their education has been woefully inadequate!

Jenny Baldock, York, North Yorkshire

And our unborn children, you may well add. Well said Clarkson, spot on mate.

michael, harrogate,

Well, I am not really sure if allowing animals in wild to become extinct won't affect our position. Just take a look at the Easter Island (or whatever the name is). People cut all the trees for whaterver reason and later probably resorted to cannibalism just to survive. Why? Because with trees they also destroyed bird nests (and birds and eggs were food) and the shade trees provided. Heat must have boiled their brains.

Igor, Ljubljana, Slovenia

If the loss of what are beautiful creatures doesn't touch you in any way, then may I make a few selfish points about extinction: it is the effective eradication of what potentially is useful genetic material or other possibly useful body parts of said animal; it interferes with the food chain; and has possible pathogenic ramifications.

E.g: if the nine banded armadillo dies out, we'll need to use humans to study and produce leprosy medicine as we're the only two species that it infects and it won't grow in a laboratory environment. Now leprosy might not be as scary as it once was, but apply that logic to Ebola or HIV. Want a possible cure for carrying your internal organs in a bucket? Then one of the best bets lies in studying the natural reservoir.

(The natural reservoir is the species that the disease normally lives in: virulent diseases usually result from a crossing of the species barrier, hence the newly exposed species having no prior immunity and being devastated by it.)

Ros, Falmouth, England

You need to work on a joint article with Minette Marin.

I've never understood why the last few members of a species deserve to be preserved, just because they are the last. Their species has failed the test of evoloution. They need help evolving, not preserving in aspic. As soon as our attention moves on to the latest war or minor extinction, they'll die out anyway, forgotton.

If they really want to save the tigers in the wild they need to make them a tourist attraction. Have a big park, lots of concealed viewing points, looking at lots of tigers tearing to shreds and eating deer, other small animals, and poachers. Copulating would be good too.

The tiger penises and the like could come from animals on tiger farms, and one day, with a bit of genetic engineering, be grown on the backs of mice or rats to order.

Peter Dunford, Bournemouth, UK

i love top gear, and nearly all of JC articles, but this column is backwards and out of touch. you been living london too long...

i saw a tiger for the first time last year in africa on holidays, Experience of my life don't deprive your kids of it. 99.9% of amimals deserve to live on this world just as much as people do, don't get me wrong we still need to farm and eat....

your wrong JC

Denis, Kerry, Ireland

Jesus H Christ. What a bunch of hand wringing morons. The problem with you lot is that your views are so extreme and expressed with such venom that normal people are put off trying to do something positive for the world we live in.
You just spend your lives trying to make people feel guilty for everything they do, and THAT is a real waste of energy.

Dave Gibbs, Perth, Australia

Congratulations to The Times - the picture accompanying this article is first class, unlike the article itself!

Jenny Baldock, York, North Yorkshire

This is all a bit tiresome now isn't it?

All great spoof characters have a shelf life: Alan Partridge, Dame Edna, Ali G. And the "Jeremy Clarkson" creation is looking pretty old hat now.

Don't get me wrong, it's been inspired stuff for a good while. Spot on in satirising the boorish buffoonery of the unthinkinking conservative 'bloke'. A very clever trick to give articulacy to the embarrasing views of the spoilt smart-arse oaf who doesn't read or understand much outside of his own garage.

But when the only people still shocked are the ones not in on the wind up, and the true idiotic prats are taking this stuff seriously it's surely time to wind the joke up, isn't it? Times editor??

Will the liberal comedy genius behind "Jeremy" please unveil himself and maybe even come up with some fresh shtick?

PGJ, Athens,

One thing Mr Clakson has proved is that being offensive, insulting and contentious is financially lucrative, for him and others of his ilk in present society.

Angela, Alton, Hants

Normally funny and provocative, but this one was pants. Polar bears and Tigers are beautiful and I love to spend sundays watching videos of them in the wild rather than you prattling on about cars in bad jeans. Take away these animals what will inspire us? The Jaguar, the prancing horse, the blackbird, the harrier, the goshawk, couger, puma, tiger, leopard - theyre all your favorite machines JC

stef, Glasgow,

Oh well you have fed the dinosaur ,
but non of you ask if the denim dinosaurs kids hold the same view? surely the key question.

wayne, huntingdon,

Ah the usual wit and intelligence of Clarkson. He should stick to his usual immature waffle on super-cars.

Laney, London,

Well, Jeremy certainly achieved his objective of provoking a lot of outrage.

A serious point though: Tigers are not going to go extinct. They may become extinct in the wild, but cows and sheep are probably extinct in the wild too. If we farmed Tigers and Polar Bears for their penises and pelts then their numbers would increase. But people who claim to love animals would rather see tigers become extinct than wear a fur coat.

It may be unpleasant, but Jeremy is also correct about Polar Bears. I personally think that it would be a shame if they became extinct but the truth is that it would not make any difference to the global ecosystem. Mankind is the top predator: if seal populations exploded then we would simply cull the seals. Ironically the same people who want to preserve the Polar Bear would probably oppose seal culls!

Simon Allen, Melbourne, Victoria

Given a choice between seeing Jeremy's spoilt kids on their money no object gap year and tigers or polar bears in the wild it is no contest.
It's not little jonny

Geoff Beer, Brighton,

I think that given a choice between preserving & seeing Tigers & Polar Bears in the wild and Jeremy's spoilt kids on their gap year paid for by daddy's largesse I cannot see which specie should be looked after being over taxing to the vast majority of people

Geoff Beer, Brighton,

Andy Robertson, and others, worry about the ecosystem; and yet, the massive diversity of life on Planet Earth seems to have failed to have told them the MOST obvious thing: Life Find A Way.

Kill the polar bears? Something else will pop up to replace them. Kill the tiger? Another big hunter will arise from somewhere.

Anyone who thinks the ecosystem is "in balance" (or, rather, would be in balance if us nasty Humans weren't around to kill them all) is at least deluded, and at worst plain stupid. Life's not called "survival of the fittest" for nothing - and Humans are just the fittest of them all, so far.

One day, something will come along which will wipe out the human race. It may even be something we invented, like nuclear war or politicians. And, when we're gone, some other species or two will step up to take our place.

Tigers look pretty, it has to be said, but so does a supernova. And they're both pretty deadly.

Ade, Wallsaey, UK

Goodness Jeremy that was quite a rant. Does this mean that you will not be joining the lovely Heather on her next trip to save the seals. Because the Native hunters were really looking forward to working in call centers to supplement their income.

sue madill, great white North, Canada

I rather think that a good reason for stopping animals going extinct is for the selfish benefit of our children - all said and done we live and die within the rest of the environment in its broadest sense, and we need it to be healthy in the same way that we need shelter, food and water, well actually it provides that for us. Keeping the high profile animals alive helps provide for that as a side effect - and hence helps us and our children - even Clarksons. I know that he is very selfish and wants to find any excuse for his high carbon lifestyle - it is about time that he learnt that being selfish sometimes means being generous because of the long term benefit that it gets us.

nick ayres, huddersfield,

Jeremy Clarkson has given up trying toappeal to Liberals ,his media career is on the slide that's why he has to be out spoken to save something of his once flourshing career.

AMANDEEP VAID, southall, london

Look at the ecosystem: take away the polar bears and you have more seals, increase the number of seals and you have less fish, decrease the number of fish and you have more algae and plankton, penultimately at least, and with more algae and plankton, depending on the circumstances, the amount of available oxygen in those arctic seas will decrease. This has any number of effects, many of which will play havoc with the biodiversity of those arctic ecosystems once again. Unfortunately it is not just the loss of a polar bear that matters, it's the chain of consequences that losing the polar bear has...

Andy Robertson, Chester, UK

The idea of protecting wild animals, Mr. Clarkson, is that it is not only an end in itself, but also a means to it: the end being the ultimate preservation of the world (which includes plants, animals, and us). Do you really believe, for example, that if Arctic ice continues to melt at the present rate, even our 'social' group will last ? You might, even your children and their children might, but there will be a time when some great descendant of yours will not, or do you not care about a descendant so far below the procreation ladder? Attempt to throw out the narrowness of your argument and understand the principle behind preservation - no one argues that proverty, disease, war, etc. are not 'our' immediate problems; indeed they are, and we are trying to tackle them (I hope you are Mr. Clarkson, for the sake of the social group you care much for!) - the point is that presversation of wildlife and their habitat is also, ultimately, a problem for our social group's survival.

Udaiveer Anand, Birmingham, UK

Jeremy is 100% correct. Most of us do like our friends and care for them rather than some tiger in some desolate place, hopefully, and that's the thing we should unite against - eco-nuts, who rather eat their own siblings than use an animal to survive.

Science is a funny thing you know, because for every scientist who says something there is one who claims the exact opposite. But the point is that we shouldn't let fellow men suffer for the sake of the tiger staying alive in some jungle. If anybody should be worried, then it's those people who depend on the species.
To Gideon I'd like to say that as far as I know, most if not all of the animals are self centered, maybe a lesson to learn for us?

Hannes, Tallinn, Estonia

Yup. We have all become spoiled middle class brats who have forgotten that, for the entire history of the planet, all life forms have had to compete for resources. Nobody wins forever.

I just wish that we had a government that batted on our behalf. And that they also treated our servicemen and veterans with some respect and provided dedicated medical facilities.

Ray, Dartmouth,

Well, thank goodness not everybody thinks the same way as Clarkson and Panos of Maidenhead or this world would not be fit to live in.
The environment belongs to more than just the human race and if we all realised that instead of indulging in the nauseating selfishness and greed so often on display we'd all be much better off human and other animals alike.

FJ, Sandown, UK

All the great mass extinctions of life occur through environmental catastrophies.There is no mother earth. Its a biological machine that renews the parts of itself that do not fit in with absolute no tears at all.But human beings care.That their children have the freedom to lead full lives free from pain, predation, parasitism,disease and the absolute misery that the constant exposure to climate imposses on a naked ape.This is why we like buildings and cars.And clothes.We survive it by being clever.By being engineers , scientists and doctors and investing in an educational system that would have taken most of a natural lifespan up not to long ago.An intelligent species learns to preserve its resources , because, inevitably they will run out.A fox will eat the last chicken and starve to death.A human being will conserve it. An egg less today may means many more meals tomorrow.But then you are known for shooting your chickens aren't you?Some mistakes are just to costly to make.

Paul Edward Jackson, Huddersfield, UK

Finally some one has pointed out that the eco-mentalists have no clothes on. Like it or not, humans ARE at the top of the food chain (despite the best efforts of tigers and polar bears) and I for one am happy that is the case. If one is really that concerned about the starving polar bears, he or she can go to Canada and allow themselves to go slightly lower on the food chain. We should then tell the polar bear: Bon appetite!

John Westrick, St Paul, MN, USA

Very amusing. And yet, it wont save me from those awful "Oh gawd, what have I done " moments next time I'm out digging in the garden and suddenly realise I've just killed some insect type thingy that I never knew existed let alone be able to identify its vital importance to our existence.
Still, I have an idea for those tigers. Double, nay, treble the population of backstreet big cat farms. Release the stock into the wild along with the arthritic and impotent. Who knows what the fright of natural selection will do for them.
The locals will also have greater variety to hunt for. There'll be less arthritics hobbling around but perhaps a few more happy men who have found turning 50 doesn't mean they don't get to be funny anymore.

P.J, West Vlaanderen, Belgium

No. I agree with the majority of Jeremys views, but this time he is wrong.

The tiger is not some savage beast, a coiled spring that is prepared to rip your small children apart. It is a devastatingly beautiful, wild predator.

I understand that there is money in 'poaching', and the subsequent selling of tiger parts to the Far East market. Do these people really need that authentic Tiger skin rug? They seem to have 'learnt' that they need these items as some sort of 'trophy' to show off to their rich friends. Well, I say they can unlearn it too.

Sure, its not going to make any 'difference' to society as a whole if these species die out. Most species die out due to losing the 'survival of the fittest'. Tigers are being taken from our world by poachers at such a rate that they cannot reproduce fast enough to keep the numbers up.

What right do we have as humans to say that it wouldn't matter if these beautiful, graceful creatures died out?

Save the tigers!

Marc Wilson, Swansea, Wales

There is a point hidden in this timeless prose, but rather well hidden. I too do not mind if the tiger hits extinction, it's what happens to the majority of species. But I do think it wrong if a species is endangered to help the likes of Mr Clarkson reverse the ravages of time with potions said, wrongly, to enhance sexual performance.

If a species dies out to preserve our substance, then fine. But extinction to maintain our style is less defensible

Mike, Bath,

Oh Dear mate! They are going to slaughter you for that!
Keeps 'em out of mischief I suppose.

geoff, Birmingham , UK

Actually the polar bear is doing rather nicely thank you very much. In fact their numbers have so increased in the last 20 years that they are now talking about the possible necessity of culling polar bears in some parts of the Great Frozen North. This information is in the public domain and was actually reported in the Times about 4 or 5 months ago.

Oh and BTW Jeremy, the melting of Arctic Ice is irrelevant. Its melting the ice over land which could cause sea levels to rise (i.e. Greenland and the Antarctic Continent - not ice over water since ice in water is mostly submerged and ice expands on freezing so when it melts there is virtually no change to the volume of the water in which the ice formerly was).

And a further BTW - anybody who knows anything about sea levels rising also know that assuming the worst predicted temperature rise in 2100 it would then take bewteen 800 - 1,000 years for the ice above the Antarctic continent and Greenland to melt completely.

oscar, reading, uk

If humanity were to die out the rest of the animal kingdom would breath a sigh of relief.

Im fed up with humanity complaining about thier conditions while they consume and expand, not thinking for a moment of the long term consequences.

John, London,

If we care nothing for our environment and the creatures in it then it will be no surprise when we have degraded it to the point where our children can't survive. So strangely having some regard for the tiger and polar bear is caring for our children!!!

Dr M Prendergast, Ringwood, Hants

I do not believe JC is being ignorant nor do I believe he has antiquated views (as previous comments might suggest).

On the contrary, I think the point is that we should worry about our species (HUMANS!) long term future, rather than waste energy trying to intervene in other cultures to stop them from going about their business whether that involves killing animals or not.

WE ARE NOT the animal police of the world. This kind of intervening is what makes us so unpopular sometimes to other cultures.

Species have been going exctinct for centuries, global warming and cooling has been going on for thousands of years, what is new however is the media fuelled hysteria about these things, which only plays to our natural fear of all things outside of our control. Let them be I say.

Protect our species, feed the poor, house the homeless, eliminate social disadvantages and elitism then we can start worrying about extinct animals. Or is it that these causes are not sexy enough?

Panos, Maidenhead,

Please do not feed the dinosaur.

wayne, huntingdon,

I have driven a column. I know the rules. You take any situation to its logical conclusion and you have got a column. That is what Clarkson does, in my view, brilliantly.
But he talks on the way of "big cat farms" as though herds of tiger,growl contentedly in sun drenched meadows and in the evenings wind their way home to be milked by rosy cheeked famers.
The truth is rather diferent. I support a small charity which seeks to help the Moon Bears in China. The bears are farmed. They spend their lives in cages litle bigger than themselves and the bile is drawn from their bones by crude and painful methods.
Sure, it doesn't matter to me if animals I will never see seek to exist but I feel the same about Africa,Europe and the Americas. But is sure as hell matters to them.
Mind you I feel the same about backpackers. Tigers have to eat. That is logical. Write a column about that Jeremy

ian skidmore, march, cambs

I think Jeremy has a point here, though he takes great glee in overdoing it. One problem with Jeremy's point of view is that some species are more important than others and the scientists don't know which ones are the important ones. Of course, Jeremy could decide for us all which ones to "let go" and which to keep. Gitus Opinionatedus is one species old Jeremy will probably want to preserve.

jimbo, Oslo, Norway

If there is such concern for the alleged demise of the polar bear, why don't we farm them? that way more polar bears are born and live longer AND we all get a fur coat each!

Frank H, London,

Its been a long time since I`ve read such narrow-minded, self centered and mistaken views. Putting ourselves at the top of the food chain and ignoring the thin balance between humans and and other living beings is a concept most primary school children are able to grasp but it is lost on Mr.Clarkson. Disappointing that The Times should allow such a pathetic attempt at a comment to be published.

Gideon, Osaka,

No comments please for the dinosaur, ( BIG BODY SMALL BRAIN).

wayne, huntingdon,

Quite, although scientists recently claimed that the influence of humans is stunting evolution, so extint animals are not being replaced by new ones as they were.

Still, good to see the osterich with its head in the sand and the media dinosaur are two species which continue to flourish.

Jamie Blackwell, Exeter,

Perhaps instead of trying to save species as they become severely endangered, the world's richest should be invited to an extinction dinner where the last remaining creatures go out with a bang as the main ingredients for a celebrity banquet.

Bob, Plymouth, Devon

Well done Jezza! If only as much hand-wringing was done over the thousands of children who die of dysentry and malaria every day. Our actions always prove what is important to us, and humans are low down the foodchain of many fundamentalist greenies.

Steve McAlpine, Sheffield, UK

Overall spot on, however to place this in a context appropriate to those of us who follow you writings, the Tiger is the equvalent of Concorde whereas the new discoveries seem to be more like variants on the 737.

Evolution certainly works both ways and the driver is survival, in our case... ours. But a thing of, albeit savage, beauty like the tiger should be mourned.

Alex, London, England

Hi Jeremy,

The problem with species going extinct is that their absence upsets the careful balance of their local ecosystem. For instance, in Jamaica, a lot of the coral reef has either destroyed, or severely damaged; not because of people damaging them directly, but rather, from overfishing removing the predatory and herbivorous species that kept coral-smothering algae at bay.

So to put it simply; local fish go extinct, only one species of sea urchin is left to eat the algae, they then get wiped out by a disease, then throw in a couple of hurricanes, and some pollution from the land, the algae population then explodes- because there's nothing left to eat it and thus keep it in check , this then kills all the reef, and, hey presto ! your stuck with the Bahamas as your no.1 Carribbean snorkelling destination . . . . .

Jellyhead, Fulchester, QLD

Yeah!

It makes perfect sense, but all the rest of us are too scared of the greenies to say so. Good on you Mr Clarkson for making these very valid points.

Cath, Palmerston North, New Zealand

This is a bit tiresome now isn't it?

It's been fairly amusing for a while now, but all spoof creations have a shelf life. Alan Partridge, Dame Edna, Ali G.... Don't get me wrong, the "Jeremy Clarkson" character has been inspired. Just spot on in satirising the blinkered buffoonery of the unthinking conservative. Very clever in giving articulacy to the embarrasing views of a sad uncle-figure that doesn't read or understand much outside of his own garage. But the joke's a bit thin now is'nt it? And some people even seem to be taking "Jeremy Clarkson" seriously!! Haha... a sure sign a joke's gone too far!

Time for the liberal comedy genius behind this character to unveil himself - and perhaps, I hope, come up with a new shtick??

PGJ, Athens,

Though I share Jeremy's sense of impotence, I suspect even he will a shed a tear when the last tiger dies alone in its forest lair. A thing of fearful beauty will have left the world.

Jeremy in Oz, Perth, Australia

That is something I have been wondering as well. I agree we should make some effort to prevent the mass extinction by the hands of man to a creature that is critical to the earth's balance of nature, but to go to such extremes as to turn a blind eye to all the other problems people are facing in many (most) parts of the world is ludicrous.
It simply falls back on the premise that EXTREMISM OF ANY KIND IS WRONG, whether ecological, theoligical, political or any other type of "al". Extremes never last, see Germany, 1942.
I love the way Jeremy hits things home.

Gus Chyba, Los Angeles, USA / California

the chinese are also putting so much pollution into the air that your children's childrens will never get to go outside, or drive a convertible car like you like so much...

Erez, jerusalem,

Sort of makes sense, doesn't it, but you don't really want to agree too loudly do you?

Aitch Pee, Chipping Norton,

i can't wait to see the replies to this... time to sit back with the popcorn and coffee.

matt, southampton, hampshire

Spot on!
Murdo in (still)primitive-Poland.

Murdo MacLeod, Plock, Poland

Excellent. Absolutely spot on. That's going to maintain your position as eco-mentalist columnist enemy number 1.
Tony
P.S. Please keep reminding people that CO2 is NOT responsible for global warming - it's jest an excuse for green taxes!!

Tony Hall, Sables d'Olonne, France

You write well, sir. I also hope my daughter never sees a tiger in the wild. It's too dangerous. Strangely, in the long run, our survival depends on those 'tigers' actually living in the wild. We are a part of nature not apart from it and as the 'enlightened specie' it is our responsability to make sure the mosquitos still have someone to pest in the future.

Joao Almeida, Manama, Bahrain