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| Earning their stripes | Earning their stripes |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| VIEWPOINT Debbie Banks | VIEWPOINT Debbie Banks |
| Next week in Geneva, a prime issue for a UN endangered species committee called Cites will be illegal trade in wild tigers. In this week's Green Room, Debbie Banks argues that a handful of businessmen want to reduce the tigers to nothing more than a luxury commodity. | Next week in Geneva, a prime issue for a UN endangered species committee called Cites will be illegal trade in wild tigers. In this week's Green Room, Debbie Banks argues that a handful of businessmen want to reduce the tigers to nothing more than a luxury commodity. |
| Business interests have continued to breed tigers speculating that the ban would one day be lifted and that they would be sitting on a valuable stockpile of body parts | Business interests have continued to breed tigers speculating that the ban would one day be lifted and that they would be sitting on a valuable stockpile of body parts |
| "Bagh Bachao, Jungle Bachao, Bharat Bachao" is the rallying cry of NGOs and activists across India, and they're right: Save the Tiger, Save the Forest, Save India. | "Bagh Bachao, Jungle Bachao, Bharat Bachao" is the rallying cry of NGOs and activists across India, and they're right: Save the Tiger, Save the Forest, Save India. |
| The future of the tiger and its jungle home are inextricably linked to the survival of all of us, not just the people who live in tiger country. | The future of the tiger and its jungle home are inextricably linked to the survival of all of us, not just the people who live in tiger country. |
| The forests that are protected in the name of the tiger are vital to mitigate climate change and to secure water resources. | The forests that are protected in the name of the tiger are vital to mitigate climate change and to secure water resources. |
| The tiger is an indicator of the health of the ecosystem and thus a symbol of good governance and political commitment to an equitable and sustainable future. | The tiger is an indicator of the health of the ecosystem and thus a symbol of good governance and political commitment to an equitable and sustainable future. |
| It is also a cultural and religious icon, venerated, feared and revered by communities across Asia and the world. | It is also a cultural and religious icon, venerated, feared and revered by communities across Asia and the world. |
| The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has been investigating and exposing the illegal trade in tigers and other Asian big cats for over 10 years. We have documented the changes in the markets and the increasing role of organised criminal networks. | The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has been investigating and exposing the illegal trade in tigers and other Asian big cats for over 10 years. We have documented the changes in the markets and the increasing role of organised criminal networks. |
| We have campaigned for more effective enforcement initiatives to disrupt their operations, and know there is so much more that governments could do if they wanted to. | We have campaigned for more effective enforcement initiatives to disrupt their operations, and know there is so much more that governments could do if they wanted to. |
| Hijacked conservation | Hijacked conservation |
| Looking to the future, it is essential to plug some of the gaps in conservation strategies. | Looking to the future, it is essential to plug some of the gaps in conservation strategies. |
| Many people living alongside tigers have yet to benefit from the millions of tourist dollars that the "world's favourite animal" generates; but in India, home to the largest remaining population of wild tigers, investment, policy and practice are at least moving in the right direction. | Many people living alongside tigers have yet to benefit from the millions of tourist dollars that the "world's favourite animal" generates; but in India, home to the largest remaining population of wild tigers, investment, policy and practice are at least moving in the right direction. |
| The same cannot be said for other countries, where business interests are hijacking the tiger conservation agenda, calling for the relaxation of trade bans so they can flood the market with farmed tiger parts. | The same cannot be said for other countries, where business interests are hijacking the tiger conservation agenda, calling for the relaxation of trade bans so they can flood the market with farmed tiger parts. |
| The logic behind such a move is that since tigers breed well in captivity, farming them is an economical solution to satisfying demand whilst alleviating pressure on wild populations. | The logic behind such a move is that since tigers breed well in captivity, farming them is an economical solution to satisfying demand whilst alleviating pressure on wild populations. |
| It's a simplistic logic that rests on critical assumptions about the complex nature and dynamics of the illegal trade in tigers and other Asian big cats. | It's a simplistic logic that rests on critical assumptions about the complex nature and dynamics of the illegal trade in tigers and other Asian big cats. |
| Can farming tigers reduce pressure on their cousins in the wild? | Can farming tigers reduce pressure on their cousins in the wild? |
| Assumptions about the motivations of those involved in the trade, the costs of the trade, the scale and type of consumer demand: all plugged in to economic models and squirted out the other side as gospel. | Assumptions about the motivations of those involved in the trade, the costs of the trade, the scale and type of consumer demand: all plugged in to economic models and squirted out the other side as gospel. |
| What the followers of this faith have failed to acknowledge is that their version of events does not hold true in the real world. The risk of proceeding with this as an experiment is enormous, and the stake is no less than the extinction of the wild tiger. | What the followers of this faith have failed to acknowledge is that their version of events does not hold true in the real world. The risk of proceeding with this as an experiment is enormous, and the stake is no less than the extinction of the wild tiger. |
| So who are these disciples and what is their motivation? There are tiger farms in Thailand but by far the biggest ones are in China, where there are reportedly around 5,000 animals in captivity. | So who are these disciples and what is their motivation? There are tiger farms in Thailand but by far the biggest ones are in China, where there are reportedly around 5,000 animals in captivity. |
| Despite a 1993 ban prohibiting the sale and use of tigers in China, business interests have continued to breed them, speculating that the ban would one day be lifted and that they would be sitting on a valuable stockpile of body parts. | Despite a 1993 ban prohibiting the sale and use of tigers in China, business interests have continued to breed them, speculating that the ban would one day be lifted and that they would be sitting on a valuable stockpile of body parts. |
| 'Conflict of interest' | 'Conflict of interest' |
| Some argue that they want to sell tiger bone to save lives. Yet the Chinese medicinal community has long since promoted alternatives to tiger bone, which was never considered a life-saving ingredient in the first place. | Some argue that they want to sell tiger bone to save lives. Yet the Chinese medicinal community has long since promoted alternatives to tiger bone, which was never considered a life-saving ingredient in the first place. |
| Others just want to sell tiger bone wine. In fact, some businessmen are so keen they have already been found in breach of Chinese law, illegally selling the wine in tiger-shaped bottles and in one case, selling tiger meat. | Others just want to sell tiger bone wine. In fact, some businessmen are so keen they have already been found in breach of Chinese law, illegally selling the wine in tiger-shaped bottles and in one case, selling tiger meat. |
| EIA and others have found tiger bone wine being marketed as a general tonic and packaged as the gift that wins promotions and seals deals. Call it a conflict of interest, but there has been no meaningful enforcement action by the relevant authorities to stop this trade. | EIA and others have found tiger bone wine being marketed as a general tonic and packaged as the gift that wins promotions and seals deals. Call it a conflict of interest, but there has been no meaningful enforcement action by the relevant authorities to stop this trade. |
| The very existence of these farms, and the persistent lobbying of the business community, is a distraction which deflates and undermines real tiger conservation efforts. | The very existence of these farms, and the persistent lobbying of the business community, is a distraction which deflates and undermines real tiger conservation efforts. |
| We're being asked to believe that those who have already dabbled in illegal trade have a real interest in limiting their market, and that the enforcement authorities who have failed to stop them so far will be able to regulate a legal trade to prevent the laundering of poached tiger parts. | We're being asked to believe that those who have already dabbled in illegal trade have a real interest in limiting their market, and that the enforcement authorities who have failed to stop them so far will be able to regulate a legal trade to prevent the laundering of poached tiger parts. |
| A tiger- and bear-themed park in China is used for farming the animals | A tiger- and bear-themed park in China is used for farming the animals |
| In June 2007, the international community spoke with one voice; it declared that tigers should not be bred for any trade in their parts and derivatives. | In June 2007, the international community spoke with one voice; it declared that tigers should not be bred for any trade in their parts and derivatives. |
| Delegates at the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to Cites voted by consensus on a decision to phase out commercial tiger farms. | Delegates at the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to Cites voted by consensus on a decision to phase out commercial tiger farms. |
| The move was championed by the governments of tiger range states such as India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan, all desperately appealing to the international community to remove the farm threat once and for all. | The move was championed by the governments of tiger range states such as India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan, all desperately appealing to the international community to remove the farm threat once and for all. |
| Two years on however, those countries with tiger farms have failed to provide any evidence of progress. | Two years on however, those countries with tiger farms have failed to provide any evidence of progress. |
| In fact, China's response to a notification from Cites seeking information on what steps they have taken to fulfil the agreed decision was met with a curt and derisive response that told us nothing. All eyes will be on China once again during the Cites meeting in Geneva next week. | In fact, China's response to a notification from Cites seeking information on what steps they have taken to fulfil the agreed decision was met with a curt and derisive response that told us nothing. All eyes will be on China once again during the Cites meeting in Geneva next week. |
| EIA firmly believes that if China is truly committed to saving the wild tiger, it should close down the tiger farms and invest in more effective and meaningful enforcement co-operation with range states. | EIA firmly believes that if China is truly committed to saving the wild tiger, it should close down the tiger farms and invest in more effective and meaningful enforcement co-operation with range states. |
| Changes in attitudes and markets show that consumers are responsive to targeted education and outreach, and indeed several markets in China have declined dramatically in the last few years. | Changes in attitudes and markets show that consumers are responsive to targeted education and outreach, and indeed several markets in China have declined dramatically in the last few years. |
| Now is not the time to abandon efforts but to reinvest, financially and politically, in their continued success. | Now is not the time to abandon efforts but to reinvest, financially and politically, in their continued success. |
| In so doing, we bring far greater benefits - not just to the survival of the wild tiger, but also to other endangered species, to the fight against corruption and organised crime and to a better world for all of us. Who doesn't want that? | In so doing, we bring far greater benefits - not just to the survival of the wild tiger, but also to other endangered species, to the fight against corruption and organised crime and to a better world for all of us. Who doesn't want that? |
| Debbie Banks is a senior tiger investigator with the EIA. | Debbie Banks is a senior tiger investigator with the EIA. |
| The Green Room is a series of opinion articles on environmental topics running weekly on the BBC News website. | The Green Room is a series of opinion articles on environmental topics running weekly on the BBC News website. |
| Do you agree with Debbie Banks? Is the international community making headway into protection of endangered species in spite of a thriving black market trade? Does farming of the animals ameliorate the pressure they would otherwise face in the wild, or continue to feed a public appetite for the animals dead, rather than alive? | Do you agree with Debbie Banks? Is the international community making headway into protection of endangered species in spite of a thriving black market trade? Does farming of the animals ameliorate the pressure they would otherwise face in the wild, or continue to feed a public appetite for the animals dead, rather than alive? |
| Debbie Banks has raised a very sensitive issue. The tigers and other wild animals should not be kept in the cages or in the zoos. Forest is their natural home and they should be allowed to live in the forest only with minimum human interference. With the density and area of forest shrinking rapidly, arguments have started that we do not have enough forest to hold the tiger population. It's unfortunate that tigers are being viewed as 'problem animals' and 'men eaters'. This kind of perception may further weaken the position of wild animals. Big effort is needed to check the encroachment of the urban lands in to the forest and to enhance the forest land. The 'market' which deals products of the wild animals must be banned effectively.Sanjay Singh Thakur, Indore | |
| I do agree that more money needs to be invested to educate people wanting to use the parts of the Tiger for so called "Heath Benefits" and that this would be better spent educating the next generation as they will be the ones that will have the power to do something as they enter the business world. We also need to see more heads of state, people in the public eye and people that have influence on others to take a stand against the distruction of the Tiger, they should not sit on the fence and state their opinion clearly.Sandra Roberts, Warrington, Cheshire England | |
| It's difficult to say whether the international community is making headway into protection of endangered species despite a thriving black market trade. Farming has the danger of opening up new customers and demands which would rather deplete instead of augmenting or preserving the wild species. Improvement of the lot of the poor and marginalized people in the vicinity of as well as within protected areas may serve to make poaching difficult and to that extent help save endangered species. Addressing their needs may need to be prioritised in the larger interest of endangered species conservation.K. Jude Sekar, Bhubaneswar, India | |
| Nowhere do I see any headway being made by the international or any community towards the EFFECTIVE on-going protection of wild tigers or wildlife, of forests or oceans, of the planet's climate or ecosystems or of civilization itself--since Man cannot survive where Nature and wildlife dies. I see the absence of will. The failure of intelligence and of leadership. The dearth of vision. Eating the cake is what I see us doing; the appearance of safeguarding is what I see us seeking. What was true of many an ancient civilization, from the Sumerians through the Romans and Mayans, remains true today: we are blinded by the status quo, by wants, needs, interests and petty concerns. But there is more. We're hemmed in by helplessness and FEAR. There are too many of us, and we're at a loss to reduce our numbers and take ourselves out of the mess we're in. Yet, as long as humans continue to breed out of control, as long as human activities continue to expand out of control, no space, species, habitat or ecosystem will remain whole or healthy, safe or protected. For wildlife or for humans. Rats in a crowded pestilential cage, we're already at each other's throats! Plunging towards suicide, as others before us have been, we remain as blinded as they. Thus, we too will reach the end of the road we travel. A.Cristina, Windsor, CA., USA | |
| I think the real problem is not the conservation of wild tigers and the effects that tiger farms have on such conservation but rather the conservation of tiger habitat. The greatest threat to most endangered wildlife is not illegal hunting but the protection of habitat that is under pressure from local farming, development and subsequent pollutions. The farms can have clear benefits for conservation efforts by providing a ready source of animals for wild release programs so long as there is suitable and protected habitat available to release them into. Just saying that the farms must close will create nothing but anger unless a suitable and attractive exit solution is provided to the people who have invested so much in them. The ideal solution would be to just slowly buy out the farms for conservation purposes and convert them into tiger sanctuaries producing animals for wild release programs.Scott Barnden, Adelaide, Australia | |
| China does great things for the panda, but I've never seen much that indicates that they're as respectful to the rest of the animal kingdom. Farming tigers and bears for medicinal purposes, skinning dogs, cats and other animals while still alive for the fur trade, cruel 'entertainment'...the list goes on. People, like me, who dream of a better world where the natural world is cherished rather than destroyed, hope that the likes of EIA can succeed in their missions. There will always be the ignorant, the apathetic and the uncaring, but the hope that compassion and conservation can triumph in the end is the only hope we have.Cate, Dubai, UAE | |
| We need open space and forests in the world for tigers to be free. The thought of tiger farms make me ill. These beautiful animals need our respect and love. And must not be breed in captivity for weak-minded people to use them for profit in potions and whatever. We all need to respect each other on the planet - human, animal and plant...China needs to understand this the same as the rest of us.Helena Faith Miel, NYC - US | |
| I have no knowledge about headway being made but if there is a thriving black market, that indicates demand exists. If the demand exists what does that mean in terms of international community's success protecting the tiger. I believe that if tigers are farmed for body parts that greed will acclerate the supply side. One day, with most wildlife in the world extinct, there will perhaps be a market for humans as in the novel and movie, "Soylent Green". I am and will continue to be an active financial supporter of "Save the Tiger Fund".Roy Lorenz, Tucson, AZ, USA | |
| The use of tiger derivatives should be outlawed. To me, tiger farms encourage the use of tiger parts and derivatives. The efforts and money should be put into maintaining a healthy tiger population in the wild. The world without the wild tigers is unthinkable and utterly sad. Dagmar Felber, Nelson, New Zealand | |
| The tiger is one of the last remaining animals on Earth that has the power to inspire that primeval awe in mankind that inspires us to want to be more powerful, more courageous, more noble. | |
| To let this animal go extinct would be to lose a very old friend, as a species. To farm the cats is almost more insulting to them than letting them go extinct. China's lack of action against the interests farming them is disgraceful and highly disappointing. Those still in captivity should be seized and gradually introduced into conservation areas in whatever is left of their natural habitat. In China if possible. If not, then in India, Nepal, and other south asian nations.Michael Doyle, Vancouver, Canada | |
| I do not agree. (1)it is not true that "the future of the tiger and its jungle home are inextricably linked to the survival of all of us". The reality is that if the tiger became extinct in the wild, that would have no practical effect whatever upon anybody in the developed countries. Moreover (2), the sensible solution to the idiotic Chinese demand for tiger parts, is to farm tigers; that's utterly and blindly obvious. Just as farmed salmon displaces wild-caught salmon, so farmed tiger will naturally displace wild tiger. The important point, is that the tiger does breed well in captivity. You will never change the Chinese desire for traditional medicine quack nostrums, but you can find a sustainable source for the materials. More power to the breeders' elbows!Thomas Goodey, Cuxton-upon-Medway, England | |
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