(World - CH ) Build a Tiger Online

[Guest guest]

Forwarded message. Original source: Ms.Belinda Wright

 

 

Build a Tiger Online

 

Build a Tiger Online

Web Campaign Seeks Photos to Stop Tiger Trade

 

Thirty tiger conservation groups this week launched a worldwide

campaign to collect supporters' pictures online to create the world's

largest photo mosaic of a tiger. The mosaic, built with thousands of

photos from tiger lovers submitted around the globe, will be unveiled

to world leaders in June as they gather to discuss trade in endangered

species.

 

Supporters of tiger conservation can take part in the campaign by

uploading their photos to http://www.savethetigerfund.org/mosaic.

Visitors to the mosaic can zoom in on the larger tiger picture and

find images submitted of themselves and family and friends.

 

The mosaic campaign was launched as China considers lifting its ban on

trade in tiger bone and other body parts, a move that would be

disastrous for wild tigers since an increase in poaching would

immediately follow.

 

" This is a fun, interactive web tool with a serious goal. We decided

that the most powerful message would come from having the public weigh

in, voting for tiger conservation with their faces, " said Judy Mills,

director of the Campaign Against Tiger Trafficking. " The aim of the

mosaic is to send a united message that the world believes China's

current ban on tiger trade is absolutely necessary for the future of

tigers in the wild. "

 

Supporters will also have the opportunity to send a note to China's

leaders recognizing them for their effective 1993 ban on tiger trade

and urging them to maintain the ban. These messages of appreciation

will be hand delivered to officials in China. The mosaic itself will

be presented to representatives from 171 countries at the Convention

on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in June.

 

" Your photos and actions could help save tigers, " said Belinda Wright,

executive director of Wildlife Protection Society of India. " The

Chinese government is being pressured to lift the ban and be able to

sell tiger bone wine, tiger meat and skins. This would make it open

season on the fewer than 5,000 tigers left in the wild, with criminals

seeing the Chinese market as an easy way to `launder' tigers poached

from the wild. "

 

An international coalition of 30 organizations including

conservationists, animal welfare groups, traditional Chinese medicine

organizations and zoos is organizing this interactive campaign to save

wild tigers.

 

=======================================================

Belinda Wright, OBE

Executive Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI)

S-25 Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110017, India

Tel: (Int+ 91.11) 4163.5920 & 4163.5921

Fax: (Int+ 91.11) 4163.5924

E-mail: wpsi

Website: www.wpsi-india.org

=======================================================

The information in this e-mail is confidential and intended solely for

the person or organisation to whom it is addressed. As it may contain

information subject to legal privilege, you may not copy, publish,

disclose

or use the contents in any manner. If you have received this e-mail in

error,

please notify the sender and delete the e-mail from your system. Thank

you.