NGOs denounced Wednesday the exports of tigers born in captivity from the European Union, which
"stimulate demand"
illegal for these animals protected but sought in some countries, especially in Asia, for their supposed medicinal virtues.
WWF and the British specialist NGO Traffic point in a report the exports of tigers, or body parts of these felines, from EU countries between 2013 and 2017, based on figures from CITES (Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora), which allows captive breeding and trade in certain endangered species, under strict regulations.
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Over this five-year period, direct exports concerned 103 tigers, while 84 others from other countries were re-exported from the EU.
These exports were authorized for commercial, zoological or circus reasons, notably to
"countries where farms are known to fuel the illegal trade of this endangered species, such as China, Thailand and Vietnam"
, both the latter being the main exporting countries from the EU.
In addition, this trade
"makes law enforcement more difficult and can stimulate demand and increase poaching of wild tigers"
, whose population is estimated at less than 4,000 individuals worldwide, say NGOs.
Over the same five-year period, the EU also reported 95 seizures of products from tigers, the vast majority (94%) of medicinal products.
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The NGOs therefore call on the EU to
"recommend to member countries to ban trade with third countries of live tigers or parts of tigers"
.
They recognize that the laws of the countries studied generally ensure good traceability of captive animals, except after their death and in the case of circuses or traveling exhibitions as private owners.
And therefore call on European countries to tighten regulations in this area.
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