MEPs take stand against tiger slaughter

2.37.35pm GMT Mon 10th Jul 2006

Sarah with Nick Mole, Campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)

MEPs on the European Parliament's International Trade Committee are being urged to support an amendment drafted by London Euro- MP Baroness Sarah Ludford and her colleague Sajjad Karim MEP calling for action to end the illegal trade in Asia of body parts of slaughtered tigers.

Baroness Ludford has recently been campaigning to stop the illegal trade in Indian tiger skins and other tiger products which is threatening their survival. She is seeking to bring this onto the EU agenda by introducing a call for the end to tiger slaughter in a report on the EU's trade relationship with India being drafted by Saj Karim. She says:

"This barbaric and heartbreaking trade destroying these splendid animals must be tackled. Two-thirds of the world's remaining tigers are in India but their population is decreasing rapidly, threatening biodiversity in India and the world as a whole."

"It is imperative that the EU not only raises this problem urgently with the Indian authorities, but also offers assistance such as financial aid and specialist customs advice. This is not about prioritising animals over human beings, but ensuring that India's wonderful heritage is protected."

Note to editors

Although trade in tiger skins and parts is banned by international law, police enforcement is often poor. Poaching and trafficking of tiger skins between India, Nepal and China is controlled by sophisticated criminal gangs. Tiger skin rugs command high prices in India and China, costumes made out of the pelts are worn in festivals in China and Tibet, and traditional medicines may still use tiger parts. A century ago there were 100,000 tigers in the wild. The last census showed there were only 3600 Indian tigers left; a new one expected recently has been postponed, and wildlife activists fear the true number may now be as low as 1500.