Tibetans burn tiger, leopard and otter skins

[Guest guest]

From the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI)

site:

 

Some good news, for a change!

10th Feb., 2006

 

We have just heard that Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported

today (9 February) that a man burnt his wildlife skin

chuba publicly on a road in Lhasa on 2 February, and

that many Tibetan people supported him. The RFA report

also said that Tibetans in Rabkong, Qinghai Province,

are planning to publicly burn their wildlife skins on

12 February. The local Chinese authorities have

supported this campaign, although an officer has

ordered that there be no publicity or large gathering

of people. In Karze, a Kham place near Litang, many

Tibetans decided not to wear their skin chubas at the

recent local festivals, and prices for wildlife skins

there have dropped dramatically.

 

News of the disastrous consequences of the skin trade

and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's condemnation of the

use of skins appears to be spreading across Tibet. Let

us hope that more and more people take a stand.

 

http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/10022006.php

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China calls out Troops to stop the Burning of Skins in

Tibet

15th Feb., 2006

 

Large numbers of troops and police are patrolling the

streets of Rebkong (Quinghai Province), to prevent a

bonfire of skins originally scheduled for 12 February

2006. It appears that the Chinese government has

banned the public burning of chuba costumes trimmed

with tiger, leopard and otter skins.

 

The authorities apparently saw the planned gathering

and bonfire as a sign of support for the Dalai Lama

who had strongly and repeatedly condemned the wearing

of endangered animal skins in Tibet, during the

Kalachakra festival held in January 2006 in India. The

Tibet Info Net, however, stated today that " the

campaign has been welcomed by different groups as a

Tibetan contribution towards wildlife conservation

and, in fact, is nothing more than the implementation

of existing Chinese environmental laws and

regulations. "

 

In August 2005, a joint investigation by WPSI and EIA

revealed the shocking scale of the use of tiger,

leopard and otter skins across the Tibetan plateau.

During the Kalachakra, WPSI, EIA and other

organisations launched an awareness campaign,

detailing the terrible consequences of the tiger and

leopard skin trade. Additionally, dialogue with the

Dalai Lama's office ensured that His Holiness was

fully aware of the problem, and was moved enough to

speak out against it during the Kalachakra.

 

The message is spreading across the Tibetan plateau

and the wearing of endangered animal skins now even

invites public ridicule. The Tibetan people who are

burning skins should be applauded for trying to stop

the illegal trade in wildlife skins and for

implementing existing wildlife laws.”

 

http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/1502200

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European Politicians Call For Action to Stop the Tiger

and Leopard Skin Trade

15th Feb., 2006

 

Strasbourg, 15th February 2006; Leading Members of the

European Parliament (MEPs) are calling on China, Nepal

and India to increase efforts to break the smuggling

networks involved in the international illegal trade

of tiger and leopard skins.

 

In a Written Declaration, put down in Parliament, the

MEPs expressed concern regarding the role of organised

criminal networks engaged in trafficking tiger and

leopard skins from India into China via Nepal, and

have called on EU Member States to offer assistance to

these countries to facilitate improved enforcement.

 

Speaking at a press conference today, Glyn Ford,

Labour MEP for the South West of England, stated: “The

only way that we can stop criminal gangs exterminating

tigers and leopards is by joint, concerted government

action by China, Nepal and India.”

 

Investigators from the Environmental Investigation

Agency (EIA) and the Wildlife Protection Society of

India (WPSI) recently uncovered the huge market for

skins in China and Tibet which is now the main factor

driving the poaching of tigers in the wild. Costumes

decorated with great swathes of tiger and leopard skin

are being worn at festivals across the Tibetan Plateau

region. EIA and WPSI witnessed hundreds of people at

these festivals wearing costumes decorated with skins.

They also brought back startling images of tiger and

leopard skins openly for sale in shops and markets in

Tibet and surrounding Chinese Provinces.

 

Belinda Wright, WPSI Executive Director, stated: “We

are delighted that this Written Declaration has been

put forward. It sends out a clear message to China,

India and Nepal that the EU is concerned about the

trade in tiger and leopard skins. Illegal trade is

currently the biggest threat to the survival of

India’s wild tigers and if no action is taken, it will

mark the end of the tiger.”

 

Editor’s Notes:

 

* The Written Declaration on the illegal trade in

tiger and leopard skins’ was tabled by Glyn Ford,

Labour MEP for the South West of England, and David

Martin, Labour MEP for Scotland.

 

* The declaration requires 372 MEP signatures by the

27th April 2006 before it can be entered into the

minutes of Parliament.

 

* The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), based

in London, is the world’s leading organisation

dedicated to investigating and exposing environmental

crime.

 

* The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI)

works closely with Indian enforcement authorities,

providing actionable intelligence on tiger and leopard

poaching and trafficking

 

http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/15022006.php

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Tibetans Burn Furs in Dharamshala

20 February 2006

 

A public bonfire of animal furs was organised today in

Dharamshala, by the Tibetan Women’s Association, the

Tibetan Youth Congress and other NGO’s. More than

thirty small articles decorated with furs were burnt.

 

Many individuals came forward to give up chubas – old

as well as new – for the bonfire. The Tibetan

Institute of Performing Arts also donated several fur

decorated items to the bonfire.

 

Mrs. B. Tsering Yeshi, the President of the Tibetan

Women's Association, who had earlier interacted with

WPSI officials, said that the bonfire was intended as

a clear message to Tibetans who were involved with the

illegal wildlife while living in India.

 

" Because of a few individuals, the name of the entire

community gets besmirched, " she said. " We are

committed to rooting out this problem forever. "

 

http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/20022006.php

 

 

 

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