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ENVIRONMENT-CONSERVATION-ANIMAL-TIGER
More than 2,300 tigers killed and trafficked this century: report
GENEVA, Aug 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – More than 2,300 endangered tigers have
been killed and illegally trafficked since the turn of the century, according
to a report published Tuesday, urging more action to protect the giant cats.
With an average of more than 120 illegally trafficked tigers seized each
year — which amounts to over two each week — since year 2000, conservation
group Traffic warned there was little sign of respite for the species.
Report author Kanitha Krishnasamy, who heads Traffic’s Southeast Asia
operations, said the numbers were deeply concerning.
“It looks like we are losing this fight,” she told AFP.
In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But
that fell to a record low of 3,200 globally in 2010.
Since then, population numbers have inched upwards, but there are still
estimated to be fewer than 3,900 tigers left in the wild.
“This pernicious trafficking,evidenced by the continuously high number of
whole skins, whole animals — both dead and alive — and bones is testament
to the ongoing demand for Tiger parts,” Krishnasamy said.
“The time for talking is over: words must be turned into action to prevent
further Tiger loss,” she said in a statement.
Traffic, which campaigns to protect endangered animals and help governments
catch those who trade in their parts, published a new analysis looking at 19-
years of tiger seizure data from across the globe.
It found that an estimated total equivalent to 2,359 individual tigers were
seized from 2000 to 2018 across 32 countries and territories.
Skins are the single most frequently seized tiger part, with on average 58
whole tiger skins seized each year, the report found, also noting a clear
increase in seizures of whole animals, both dead and alive.
– ‘Undermine conservation efforts’ –
The study also highlighted the growing role breeding centres play in
fuelling the illegal tiger trade, especially in Southeast Asia.
The tiger farm industry often argues the trade in captive animals helps to
relieve the pressure on wild felines, but wildlife groups argue it reduces
the stigma around buying the animals or their body parts and could create new
markets for them.
More than half of tiger seizures in Thailand and a third of those in
Vietnam over the past two decades were identified as coming from captive
breeding facilities, Traffic said.
“Seizures of tigers from captive facilities continue and serve as a stark
reminder that such facilities seriously undermine conservation efforts to
safeguard this species and provide opportunities for laundering and other
illegal activities,” said senior Traffic crime analyst Ramacandra Wong in the
statement.
Tuesday’s report was released as parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meet in Geneva to evaluate and fine-tune
the treaty that manages trade in more than 35,000 species of plants and
animals.
Tiger farms are on the agenda, with the report authors calling for CITES to
monitor facilities to ensure they are not helping feed the illegal trade
chain.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1155 hrs