Analysis Of Tiger Seizures From 11 Tiger Range Countries
Over the last decade, parts of between 1,069 and 1,220 tigers have been seized in 11 of the 13 tiger range countries, according to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. This data represents seizures of approximately 104 to 119 tigers per year.
Of the 11 countries where tiger parts were found, the countries that ranked the highest in number of tiger part seizures were India (276 parts representing 469 to 533 tigers), China (40 parts representing 116 to 124 tigers), and Nepal (39 parts representing 113 to 130 tigers). India is home to half of the world’s tiger population.
The tiger parts seized included skins, bones and skeletons (1254 kg), whole dead animals, and claws. Seizures of skins most frequently occurred in India and Nepal, and to a lesser extent in China, Russia, and Indonesia. Bones and skeletons were most often sized in China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Russia, and Nepal, while claws were most often found in India and Malaysia. Whole, dead tigers were sized in Vietnam, Thailand, China, Russia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Tiger parts are used by different cultures for decoration, medicine, and even good luck charms.
There has been an increase in the number of seizures made in Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. “Hot spots” of the trade include Nepal, India-Myanmar, Malaysia-Thailand, Myanmar-China, and the Russia-China borders.
Wild tiger population numbers appear to be in a decline, most likely due to poaching and illegal trade, in addition to habitat loss, encroachment, and excessive poaching of key prey species. A century ago, there were approximately 100,000 wild tigers in existence, while 2010 estimates are closer to about 3,200 wild tigers.