THE wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC issued a wake-up call to the Indonesian authorities this week: stop the illegal trade in Sumatran tiger body parts or the species will be hunted to extinction.
TRAFFIC claims to have found tiger body parts on sale in 10 per cent of Sumatran shops surveyed in 2006. It estimates that at least 23 tigers were killed that year to supply the trade. That鈥檚 down from 52 kills per year in 1999 and 2000, but TRAFFIC fears the decline is the result of the tiger鈥檚 increased scarcity, not improved law enforcement.
鈥淭iger body parts on were found on sale in 10 per cent of Sumatran shops鈥�
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TRAFFIC says it has given the Indonesian authorities details of the tiger traders, but claims there is little sign of any serious attempt to stem the trade beyond ineffectual awareness-raising.
Trade is just one factor contributing to the tiger鈥檚 decline, says Tonny Soehartono of Indonesia鈥檚 ministry of forestry. They are also being driven into conflict with humans through 鈥渓and use changes and habitat fragmentation鈥�, he says.
Endangered species 鈥� Learn more about the conservation battle in our comprehensive special report.
