SEALING a historic and lasting peace deal over Kashmir may have been the top priority this week for India鈥檚 prime minister Manmohan Singh. But when he returns to New Delhi he will be asked to turn his attention to a policy with consequences equally long-lasting.
On 12 April, Willem Wijnstekers, secretary-general of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 鈥� of which India is a member 鈥� wrote to Singh in a 鈥渓ast-ditch鈥� attempt to persuade India to tackle tiger poaching. In taking the unusual step of making the letter public, Wijnstekers is hoping to demonstrate that the rest of the world is more than willing to help.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not our intention to embarrass, but it鈥檚 really frustrating trying to get something done,鈥� Wijnstekers told New 杏吧原创. He cites an unwillingness amongst national park workers to admit there is a problem. 鈥淓veryone denies there is poaching, and if you say there鈥檚 a problem you are fired,鈥� he says.
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鈥淓veryone denies there is tiger poaching. If you say there is a problem, you鈥檙e fired鈥�
India鈥檚 population of Bengal tigers is estimated to be down to around 3600.
