It is official. There are now considerably more tigers in captivity than in the wild. It appears the entire world has failed this great cat. Not only do the cats face a shrinking environment and the cruelty of poaching, now it seems that organised crime is involved in the illegal trade of tiger parts all over the globe. These are the same people that trade in bear, rhino and elephant parts.
Animals certainly deserve better than we humans provide for them. The very fact that so many species are on the verge of extinction should vividly illustrate that fact.
I know that evolution happens and animal species and sub species go extinct. What I do not comprehend is why we have to help them along the road to disappearance with our greed. Keeping them in zoos is simply not enough. They deserve to live free just like humans.
From the BBC;
Governments need to crack down on illegal tiger trading if the big cats are to be saved, the UN has warned.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Doha, Qatar heard that tiger numbers are continuing to fall.
Organised crime rings are playing an increasing part in illegal trading of tiger parts, CITES says, as they are with bears, rhinos and elephants.
Interpol is working with CITES to track and curb the international trade.
Last year, World Bank chief Robert Zoellick said the global black market in wildlife products was worth about $10bn per year, making wildlife the third most valuable illicit commodity after drugs and weapons.
Read the rest of this great article here.
Most valuable illicit commodity after drugs and weapons. That says a lot about us doesn’t it?
I will continue to support the fight for these great cats. I will also turn over anyone I run across who is in possession of illegal animal parts or trophies to the proper authorities.
I hope others will do the same.
