Located at the edge of the Anandapur village are the remains of an ancient tiger shrine. In many Asian cultures, the tiger is a symbol of strength and royal power. Tigers also figure prominently in Hindu and Buddhist imagery and teachings. Here, where the tiger statue has been toppled by an even mightier tree, it helps communicate one of the primary themes of Disney's Animal Kingdom: the power of the natural world.
Since the tree has overcome the tiger, the people of Anandapur revere it as sacred. They have turned it into a prayer tree, hanging flags and scarves as offerings. As is tradition, older flags are left in place, even as new ones are added. For each prayer which has been answered, a bell is hung on the tree.
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