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Tiger trafficking: India records largest number of seizures

Tiger Trafficking Across Asia Goes On Unabated With India Reporting The Largest Number Of Seizures. However, There Has Been A Significant Decrease In The Number Of Seizures Reported In India Since 2010.

PTI | Updated on: 30 Sep 2016, 10:33:35 AM
Tiger trafficking: India records largest number of seizures

New Delhi:

Tiger trafficking across Asia goes on unabated with India reporting the largest number of seizures. However, there has been a "significant decrease" in the number of seizures reported in India since 2010. A report from TRAFFIC and WWF has said the national rail network in India is the preferred method for transporting tigers and their parts.

It found that a minimum of 1,755 tigers were seized between 2000 and 2015 - an average of more than two animals per week. Published ahead of a critical debate on illegal tiger trade at the world's largest wildlife trade meeting underway in South Africa, the report says at least 30 per cent of the big cats seized in 2012-2015 were captive-sourced tigers.

"During the 16-year period under review India has recorded the greatest number of seizures of all Tiger Range Countries (TRCs), accounting for 44 per cent (355) of the total - a minimum of 540 Tigers seized, accounting for 30 per cent of the total. "Location information demonstrates that while the southern region remains a hot spot, there also appears to have been a greater number of seizures reported in the central zone in and around Madhya Pradesh," the report 'Reduced to Skin and Bones Re-examined' sent by WWF said.

With only an estimated 3,900 tigers left in the wild, evidence indicates that an increasing number of seized animals undoubtedly originate from captive breeding operations. The report said that a smaller cluster of seizures has also been observed along the border of Nepal in Uttar Pradesh.

"The research found that the national rail network in India is the preferred method for transporting tigers and their parts and is greatly determined by the fact that many train lines traverse through many protected areas across India, in contrast to the national bus service for example," it said. It said that despite the highest number of seizures recorded by India, the overall trend line indicates a statistically significant decrease in the number of seizures being reported, particularly since 2010, as described earlier in the report. 

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First Published : 30 Sep 2016, 10:19:00 AM

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