Tigers

No matter what the culture or language, the tiger is regarded as the
undisputed ruler of its domain and it has had a profound influence on
village life in Asia over the centuries. In popular belief the tiger is the
oldest inhabitant of the jungle, living there long before humans came.
People working in their gardens or in the forest do not dare to call the big cat by its common names. Instead they use respectful titles like
'grandfather/grandmother in-the forest,' 'old man of the forest,' 'general'
or 'king of the forest.'