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Recent seizures of leopard skins in India show that demand for big cat skins continues to fuel poaching, says EIA.

Snow leopard skin on sale Linxia, China, June 2008. © EIA

The recently formed Wildlife Crime Control Bureau joined forces with the Uttarakhand Special Task Force and seized three leopard skins and arrested two people in connection with the case in Dehradun this week.

All leopards were killed in the last couple of months say the Special Task Force who made the seizures and arrests following a tip-off. It is the second such seizure this month and the fifth since July.

"Prestigious gifts"

Wildlife officials say poachers have increasingly set their sights on leopards because of dwindling tiger numbers, killing them for their skins as well as bones, claws and other body parts. An estimated 105 have been poached so far this year.

Many are smuggled for sale in China and in June this year EIA investigators in Linxia, Gansu province, found 13 snow leopards, 13 leopard skins and one whole tiger skin for sale in just one street in a few days.

Debbie Banks, Head of EIA’s Tiger Campaign said: “There is still clearly a large demand for skins across China as non-financial bribes, home décor and as prestigious gifts.

“We have seen a considerable decline in demand from the Tibetan community and a huge drop in skins visible on sale. But demand is still being driven by other areas.

Criminal networks

“What’s needed in China is the same intelligent-led enforcement action we are seeing in India, but to primarily target the smugglers and traders who are controlling the trade.

Better intelligence sharing between India, Nepal and China could significantly improve efforts to disrupt criminal networks and stop the trade in Asian big cats.”

India had about 7,300 leopards according to a 1997 census, but conservationists say the number is now likely to be much lower.

To read EIA’s recent briefing ‘Skin Deep – The need for Effective Enforcement to combat the Asian Big Cat Skin Trade’ click HERE

ENDS

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