Experts against lifting ban on tiger trade

Participants of an International tiger symposium have said that Nepal should not agree to lift a ban on the sale of tiger parts as proposed by a Chinese delegation.

The Himalayan Times daily quoted Steven Broad of the Traffic International (TI), which coordinates with the world-wide traffic network established to monitor trade in wild plants and animals, as saying that Nepal should show serious concern and intervene on the issue of legalisation of trade and commercial farming of tigers.

Chinese delegation during the international tiger symposium lobbied to have tiger trade legalised as illegal farming of tigers and selling tiger parts to produce medicine and wine is a big business there.

“Tiger parts from such breeding places are supplied to factories for medicines and wines while some luxury restaurants even serve tiger meat,” says the TI report.

“The lifting of the ban is going to make a catastrophe for Nepal’s tigers. As the market opens chances are there that wild tigers from Nepal’s jungles will be openly marketed in China,” he said.

Anil Manandhar, the country representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, said that the domestic trade of tiger in China has direct relation with poaching and smuggling of tigers in Nepal.

“The lifting of ban on tiger trade in China means acceleration of wildlife trade in Nepal. This is gong be out of control soon, if the government fails to come up with a wise stand,” he said. Nepal’s tiger population is between 350 and 370. nepalnews.com pb Apr 20 07

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