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THE STATE OF THE TIGER
Acknowledgements  
Introduction  
National Update  
International Trade  
  • CITES
    		•  
  • Detection of products
    		•  
  • China
    		•  
  • Japan
    		•  
  • USA
    		•  
  • UK
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  • Global Tiger Forum
    • MP Tiger State  
    Poaching and Trade  
    Timber Mafia  
    Fish Mafia  
    Mining  
    Indrawati  
    Staff Issues  
    Nationwide  
    Kaziranga  
    Conclusions  
    International Trade - The Global Tiger Forum


    The Global Tiger Forum, first thought of as a regional agreement to toughen cross-border co-operation and provide support for tiger conservation in range states, has been weakened into a funding mechanism for range states alone. Five and a half years after this idea was first mentioned, the Global Tiger Forum now has five countries which have ratified: India, Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan and Vietnam and with Nepal presenting a letter of intent. Since its second meeting in March 1997 in Delhi when 11 tiger range states attended it now has a full time Secretary General.

    Activities to date include sponsoring a number of forest officials from Vietnam, Burma and Nepal to undergo training, supporting a survey of flora and fauna in Cambodia and identification of transboundary tiger habitat in six range states.

    Netherlands: an EIA survey in September 1997 found products claiming to contain tiger parts in five out of six pharmacies visited.

    Canada: a TRAFFIC North America survey in 1996 -1997 found tiger medicines in 30% of 20 shops surveyed in Toronto and 58% of 24 shops surveyed in Vancouver.

    Australia: 14% of shops surveyed offered tiger products.

    New Zealand: 20% of shops surveyed offered tiger products.

    Burma: Tiger bones, penis, claws, teeth and whiskers available and tiger skins seen by investigators from Care for the Wild and the Centre for Science and Environment at the border town of Tachilek. Despite joining CITES in 1997, Burma continues to be a hotspot for free and open trade in tiger and other endangered species parts.

    Cambodia: Tiger products are illegally taken to Vietnam along Route 19 and to Champassak Province in Laos along Route 194. The skins and bones are hidden in rice sacks and transported by bus.


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