Illegal tiger trade 'killing 100 big cats each year'

[Vikram]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11718648

By Mark Kinver
Science and environment reporter, BBC News
The illegal trade in tiger parts has led to more than 1,000 wild tigers being killed over the past decade, a report suggests.
Traffic International, a wildlife trade monitoring network, found that skins, bones and claws were among the most common items seized by officials.
The trade continues unabated despite efforts to protect the cats, it warns.
Over the past century, tiger numbers have fallen from about 100,000 individuals to just an estimated 3,500.
The study, which used data from 11 of the 13 countries that are home to populations of Panthera tigris, estimated that between 1,069 and 1,220 tigers were killed to supply the illicit demand for tiger parts.
'Poaching pressures'
Since October 1987, tigers have been listed as an Appendix I species (threatened with extinction) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which means all commercial trade in the animals or their parts is banned.
The figure was based on analysis of 481 seizures. More than 275 of the seizures were in India, which - the report's authors said - represented between 469 and 533 tigers.
China, with 40, had the second highest number of seizures, accounting for up to 124 animals, while Nepal reported 39 seizures, or 113-130 tigers, they added.
"Given half the world's Tigers live in India, it's no real surprise the country has the highest number of seizures," explained co-author Pauline Verheij, joint TRAFFIC and WWF tiger trade programme manager.
"While a high number of seizures could indicate high levels of trade or effective enforcement work, or a combination of both, it does highlight the nation's tigers are facing severe poaching pressure," she added.
"With parts of potentially more than 100 wild tigers actually seized each year, one can only speculate what the true numbers of animals are being plundered."
Drugs, weapons, wildlife
The authors said the data showed that the trade continued "unabated despite considerable and repeated efforts to curtail it on the part of tiger range and consumer countries, intergovernmental organisations and NGOs".
Commenting on the findings, leader of WWF's Tigers Alive initiative Mike Baltzer said: "Clearly enforcement efforts to date are either ineffective or an insufficient deterrent.
"Not only must the risk of getting caught increase significantly, but seizures and arrests must also be followed up by swift prosecution and adequate sentencing, reflecting the seriousness of crimes against tigers," he added.
In March 2010, during the most recent high level meeting of Cites, nations agreed to increase intelligence sharing against criminal networks that smuggled big cat parts.
Speaking in 2009, World Bank chief Robert Zoellick said the global black market in wildlife products was worth about $10bn (£6bn) per year, making wildlife the third most valuable illicit commodity after drugs and weapons.
Conservationists also point to China's "tiger farms" as a threat to the wild animals because, they say, it perpetuates a market into which wild tiger parts can be sold, often commanding a higher value as products made from wild animals are perceived to be more "potent".
Although China does not officially permit the sale of goods from these farms, in practice several investigations have revealed tiger parts are being sold.
The report called for an improved understanding of the tiger trade and much tighter law enforcement.
"But good enforcement alone will not solve the problem," warned Steven Broad, executive director of Traffic.
"To save tigers in the wild, concerted action is needed to reduce the demand for tiger parts altogether in key countries in Asia."
Enforcement efforts to date, the authors concluded, "point to a lack of political will among those responsible at national and international levels".
They hoped the report would provide an "important baseline to inform the understanding of this persistent yet illegal trade".

[prashantsingh]

Awful.
What boggles my brain is how an animal as big and ellusive as a tiger can be poached and smuggled out of a "protected forest" area without the officials coming to know about it.........unless of course some of them are hand in glove with the poachers.

[mayuri]

Day before yesterday i posted my Topic in name of Get Walther invoivce directly from company.Today i am not getting that.I even not has deleted.its not in my list too.can you tell me what would have been the problem.even I didnt used any wrong words or it was not against of post...

[abhrankash]

Awful.
What boggles my brain is how an animal as big and ellusive as a tiger can be poached and smuggled out of a "protected forest" area without the officials coming to know about it.........unless of course some of them are hand in glove with the poachers.

Dear sir,

As i have told you earlier this is a big nexus of ministers and some big forest officials also if you want to know some more then also it can be done I know some people those have killed some tigers and those are being sold to the family members of the minister during the time of 1996-1997.

[Vikram]

Day before yesterday i posted my Topic in name of Get Walther invoivce directly from company.Today i am not getting that.I even not has deleted.its not in my list too.can you tell me what would have been the problem.even I didnt used any wrong words or it was not against of post...

Please check your PM that was sent two days ago.BTW,Your present post does not have any relevance to the topic.Please do not hijack threads.

Best-
Vikram

[littlebear]

Informative article. drastic measures are needed to curb this.

[mayuri]

Day before yesterday i posted my Topic in name of Get Walther invoivce directly from company.Today i am not getting that.I even not has deleted.its not in my list too.can you tell me what would have been the problem.even I didnt used any wrong words or it was not against of post...

Please check your PM that was sent two days ago.BTW,Your present post does not have any relevance to the topic.Please do not hijack threads.

Best-
Vikram

Am extremely sorry for posting and disturbing you all here.actually i am unable to send any PM and I am not getting any PM.its showing unaothrized.so to talk you i am sending it here.what is the problem with me and site???
I want to know and clear it.we are here because we love shooting not to stop people who want to help people.!st unedrstand the motive.
I feel administrator should clear with me if he has any problem.contat me [email protected].
Idont get any message or anything from here.so i am conveying message from here.
thanks,
with regards.....