Report: 1,000 Wild Tigers Killed in Last Decade

[marmar]

(CBS) They have lost nearly 90 percent of their wild habitat. They have been placed on every "near extinction" list in the world. They have become a symbol of mankind's overreach in the wild. Yet somehow, the number of wild tigers continues to decline at an alarming rate, reports Traffic International, a British non-profit wildlife trade monitoring agency.

In a newly released report detailing the illicit trade of tiger parts, Traffic says that parts of at least 1,069 tigers have been seized in the last decade in countries were tigers roam wild, making for an average of more than 100 killed each year. Considering the number of tigers poached is probably far higher than the number officially reported, and with only an estimated 3,200 tigers remaining in the wild, the outlook for the future of the species is grim.

Of the 11 countries studied in the report, India, China and Nepal ranked highest in the number of tiger part seizures, with India by far the highest number of tiger part seizures at 276, representing between 469 and 533 tigers. China, with 40, had the second highest number of seizures, or 116-124 tigers, and Nepal reported 39 seizures, or 113-130 tigers, according to the report.

“Given half the world’s tigers live in India, it’s no real surprise the country has the highest number of seizures, and while a high number of seizures could indicate high levels of trade or effective enforcement work, or a combination of both, it does highlight the nation’s tigers are facing severe poaching pressure,” said Pauline Verheij, joint TRAFFIC and WWF Tiger Trade Programme Manager and an author of the report. “With parts of potentially more than 100 wild tigers actually seized each year, one can only speculate what the true numbers of animals are being plundered.” ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/09/tech/main7037377.shtml

[joeybee12]

1. KNR...they won't be around at the end of my lifetime...very sad...nt

[Initech]

2. What do tigers dream of when they take their little tiger snooze?

Do they dream of mauling zebras or Halle Berry in her Catwoman suit?
Dont you worry your pretty striped head
We're gonna get you back to Tyson and your cozy tiger bed
And then we're gonna find our best friend Doug
And then we're gonna give him a best friend hug
Doug Doug oh Dougie Doug Doug
But if he's been murdered by crystal meth tweakers
Well then we're shit outta luck.