Pressure mounts on Southeast Asian nations to crack down on tiger trafficking as numbers continue to dwindle
New study illustrates the growing role breeding centres play in fuelling the trade, especially in Southeast Asia
Two tigers are killed or illegally trafficked every week, according to fresh analysis published Wednesday that warned of the “disastrous impact” on the 4,000 big cats left in the wild.
The latest estimate comes as experts and dignitaries, including Britain’s Prince William, gather in Vietnam’s capital for an international wildlife conference that kicks off on Thursday.
The two-day meeting brings together governments, NGOs and activists to combat illegal wildlife trade and is being hosted in a country that has become a nexus for smuggling and consumption.
Wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC, which campaigns to protect endangered animals and help governments catch those who trade in their parts, published a new analysis looking at 16 years of tiger seizure data from across the globe. They estimate an average of 110 tigers became victims of the trade each year since 2000.
Ending tiger farming would ease the pressure and help law enforcement agencies focus on the poachers and traffickers of wild tigers
The study also illustrates the growing role breeding centres play in fuelling the trade, especially in Southeast Asia. Researchers singled out Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as among the world’s top countries for tiger farms.
“These countries have clearly made little meaningful progress in controlling this source of supply,” Kanitha Krishnasamy, a co-author of TRAFFIC’s report said. “Any further stimulation of demand could have a more disastrous impact on wild tigers.”
