In September 2003, we sent writer Maryalice Yakutchik to South Africa to check in on Ron and Julie, two Bengal tigers born in a Cincinnati zoo that are being taught how to hunt and live in the wild by human teachers John Varty — veteran naturalist and cameraman — and young Canadian zoologist and cat-handler Dave Salmoni. If Ron and Julie can be successfully integrated into the wild, they could become the forerunners of an audacious plan to help save the world's population of wild tigers. Watch their story on Living with Tigers, returning Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 8 PM e/p.

DISPATCH 1: Earning Their Stripes Can you take zoo-born tiger cubs and raise them to be hunters that can survive in the wild? The answer could help shape the face of tiger conservation.

DISPATCH 2: "If It Pays, It Stays" Can human hunters and big predators co-exist? And if they can do so in Africa, can lessons learned help the tigers in Asia?

DISPATCH 3: Ecotourism and Megafauna It occurs to me, as a yellow-eyed lioness and I engage in a staring contest not tempered by bars or fence, that perhaps we crave the delicious if chilling reminder that we are — in our most fundamental state — simply another flavor of meat.

DISPATCH 4: Meeting Julie When a 380-pound female tiger named Julie brushes up against me, I am told to stand my ground and push back.

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