China must clamp down on illegal tiger trade (Barking and Dagenham Borough Liberal Democrats)

Barking and Dagenham Borough Liberal Democrats <barkinganddagenham@libdems4london.org.uk>

China must clamp down on illegal tiger trade

October 26, 2009 11:05 AM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

In the run-up to the Year of the Tiger, which begins in February of next year, China is failing to protect this and other highly endangered big cats.

According to a new report by the NGO the Environmental Investigation Agency that investigates and campaigns against environmental crime, the Chinese government is not doing enough to clamp down on the black market in tiger skins and bones. Tiger skins are sold for luxury clothing or décor in China and Tibet, and can fetch between £7,000 and £13,000. Tiger bones, used for traditional Chinese medicine, also fetch a lot of money on the black market.

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Sarah Ludford said:

"Current estimates are that there may only be just over 3000 of these beautiful beasts left in the world. The Chinese government needs to do more to prevent the illegal trade in tiger products both within and without its borders."

"I will be working closely with the European Parliament's Animals Intergroup and the Environmental Investigation Agency to ensure that the British government and the EU keep up the pressure on China over this urgent matter."

Buying and selling Asian big cat parts and derivatives is illegal under Chinese law, and the international trade is outlawed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), of which China is a member. But a mix of corruption and inaction means that enforcement is poor. Due to lobbying by MEPs and NGOs, the European Union is taking a strong position within CITES to call China to account.

Most of the big cat skins sold in China are sourced from neighbouring countries such as India, Burma and Nepal. While China is the main destination for illegally poached Asian big cat parts, there is still demand in some other East Asian countries and products are then exported around the world. The Chinese Year of the Tiger begins on 14 February 2010.