(IN): Conservationists Call on India to Support China’s Ban on Tiger Trade

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News Release

May 16, 2007

International Tiger Coalition

 

Conservationists Call on India to Support China's Ban on Tiger Trade

 

An international coalition of 35 organizations is calling on India to

ask China to keep its ban on trade in tiger bone in place. A Chinese

government delegation is in India all week to discuss tigers, among

other issues, with Indian officials. This visit comes as China

considers lifting a ban it placed on trade in tiger products in 1993.

 

" We hope that the Indian government will communicate to the Chinese

delegation how important China's 14-year ban on tiger trade has been

to the protection of India's treasured wild tiger populations, " the

International Tiger Coalition said in an open statement. " Furthermore,

we hope the Indian government will stress the absolute necessity of

keeping this ban in place in order to secure a future for India's tigers. "

 

There are several " tiger farms " in China that, collectively, house

about 5,000 live tigers. Pressure to lift the ban is coming from the

investors in these tiger farms, who stand to make enormous profits if

China's ban is lifted. The coalition recommends an immediate

moratorium on breeding at China's tiger farms so that the current

population of captive tigers does not grow, as well as the eventual

closure of all tiger farms.

 

The International Tiger Coalition is an unprecedented alliance made up

of environmental, zoo and animal protection organizations as well as

the traditional Chinese medicine community, which have come together

to speak with one voice in asking China to keep its successful 14-year

ban on tiger trade in place to ensure a future for wild tigers. The

coalition believes any reopening of tiger trade in China's booming

economy will rekindle an enormous demand that will threaten the

survival of remaining wild tiger populations throughout Asia.

 

" There are simply too few tigers left in the wilds of Asia to risk

reopening trade of any kind from any source, " said Belinda Wright,

Executive Director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI),

a coalition member. " We dare not risk an entire species for the

financial gain of a handful of investors. "

 

Aaranyak

American College of Traditional

Animal Welfare Institute

Animals Asia Foundation

Association of Zoos & Aquariums

Born Free Foundation

Born Free USA

British and Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums

Care for the Wild International

Conservation International

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Environmental Investigation Agency

Global Tiger Patrol

Humane Society International

Humane Society of the United States

International Fund for Animal Welfare

PeunPa

Ranthambhore Foundation

Save The Tiger Fund

Species Survival Network

The Corbett Foundation

Tigris Foundation

TRAFFIC

21st Century Tiger

WildAid

Wildlife Alliance

Wildlife Conservation Nepal

Wildlife Conservation Society

Wildlife Protection Society of India

Wildlife Trust of India

World Association of Zoos & Aquariums

World Society for the Protection of Animals

WWF

Zoological Society of London

 

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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

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