Not good news but thankfully some countries are doing a lot to stop this, see links below.
With fewer than 4,000 left in the wild, tigers are on a precipice -- yet
more than 100 of the big cats are still killed and illegally trafficked
each year, according to fresh analysis published Wednesday.
The latest estimate comes as experts and dignitaries, including
Britain's Prince William, gather in Vietnam's capital for an
international wildlife conference which kicks off on Thursday.
The two-day meet joins governments, NGOs and activists to combat illegal wildlife trade and is being hosted in a country that has become a nexus for smuggling and consumption.
Traffic, which campaigns to protect endangered animals and help governments catch those who trade in their parts, published a new analysis looking at 16-years of tiger seizure data from across the globe.
They estimate an average of 110 tigers became victims of the trade each year since 2000.
The study also illustrates the growing role breeding centres play in fuelling the trade, especially in Southeast Asia.
Researchers singled out Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as among the world's top countries for tiger farms.
"These countries have clearly made little meaningful progress in controlling this source of supply," Kanitha Krishnasamy, a co-author of Traffic's report said in a statement.
"Any further stimulation of demand could have a more disastrous impact on wild tigers."
Around 30% of tiger parts seized between 2012 and 2015 now come from captive tigers compared to just two percent between 2000 and 2003.
Animal rights groups argue that by keeping demand for tiger parts going, farms simultaneously perpetuate the destruction of tigers in the wild.
Laos recently announced plans to close its tiger farms while Thailand has initiated investigations after a long tussle with a controversial Buddhist "tiger temple" that for years had been at the centre of allegations of complicity in the trade.
But both countries have a long history of corruption and policing crackdowns that rarely result in permanent successes on the ground.
Animal rights groups hope the Hanoi conference will pile pressure on governments to redouble efforts to stem the trade and close down farms.
"Ending tiger farming would ease the pressure and help law enforcement agencies focus on the poachers and traffickers of wild tigers," Michael Baltzer, from the World Wildlife Fund said.
Prince William, who has become a champion of endangered species in recent years, met with Vietnam's prime minister and vice president on Wednesday.
With many thanks to The Bangkok Post
The two-day meet joins governments, NGOs and activists to combat illegal wildlife trade and is being hosted in a country that has become a nexus for smuggling and consumption.
Traffic, which campaigns to protect endangered animals and help governments catch those who trade in their parts, published a new analysis looking at 16-years of tiger seizure data from across the globe.
They estimate an average of 110 tigers became victims of the trade each year since 2000.
The study also illustrates the growing role breeding centres play in fuelling the trade, especially in Southeast Asia.
Researchers singled out Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as among the world's top countries for tiger farms.
"These countries have clearly made little meaningful progress in controlling this source of supply," Kanitha Krishnasamy, a co-author of Traffic's report said in a statement.
"Any further stimulation of demand could have a more disastrous impact on wild tigers."
Around 30% of tiger parts seized between 2012 and 2015 now come from captive tigers compared to just two percent between 2000 and 2003.
Animal rights groups argue that by keeping demand for tiger parts going, farms simultaneously perpetuate the destruction of tigers in the wild.
Laos recently announced plans to close its tiger farms while Thailand has initiated investigations after a long tussle with a controversial Buddhist "tiger temple" that for years had been at the centre of allegations of complicity in the trade.
But both countries have a long history of corruption and policing crackdowns that rarely result in permanent successes on the ground.
Animal rights groups hope the Hanoi conference will pile pressure on governments to redouble efforts to stem the trade and close down farms.
"Ending tiger farming would ease the pressure and help law enforcement agencies focus on the poachers and traffickers of wild tigers," Michael Baltzer, from the World Wildlife Fund said.
Prince William, who has become a champion of endangered species in recent years, met with Vietnam's prime minister and vice president on Wednesday.
With many thanks to The Bangkok Post
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Lion Cub Triplets Raise Hope for The Endangered Asiatic Lion
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Bornean Marbled Cat: An Ultra-rare Cat Species Captured On Camera
Iranian Cheetah Sighting Gives Hope To Conservation Efforts
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Pallas's Cats To Get Their Own 'Palace' In Siberian Mountains
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Last Wild Ocelots In Texas Get New Paths To Safety
Surprising Facts About Our Favorite Big Cats
Earliest Big Cat Fossil Found in Tibet
The Serengeti Lion: An Exquisite National Geographic Project
Buddhist Monks and The "Tiger Temple" of Kanchanaburi
Lion Cub Triplets Raise Hope for The Endangered Asiatic Lion
The Siberian Tiger
Bornean Marbled Cat: An Ultra-rare Cat Species Captured On Camera
Iranian Cheetah Sighting Gives Hope To Conservation Efforts
Cincinnati Zoo Cheetah Sets New World Speed Record!
Snow Leopard and Cubs at Magdeburg Zoo
Swimming Tigers at Australia Zoo
Another Chance for Three Orphaned Tiger Cubs
Golden Tabby Tigers
Lion Protector, Shivani Bhalla Helps Big Cats and People Coexist
Asher Jay: Art Of The Matter
India’s Wild Tiger Population Has Increased 30% Since 2010
A Tiger Sets Out For Independence
World Lion Day: Some Stunning Images Of The King Of The Jungle
Two Snow Leopard Cubs Born at Brookfield Zoo
White Lions - A Royal Family
Lions Gain New Endangered Species Protections
Leopard Hunting Banned in South Africa For Remainder of 2016
Africa’s Big Five Animals
A Hidden Population Of Up To 200 Lions Has Been Found In Ethiopia
Tigers Are Coming Back!
Russia Builds A Huge Tunnel To Save A Near-Extinct Group of Leopards
Tracking Sumatran Tigers
30 Tiger Zoos In Thailand Face Nationwide Checks
The Black Panther
Russia's 'Extinct' Persian Leopards Reintroduced To Black Sea Mountains
Why Big Cat Rescue Doesn’t Have Cheetah or Jaguars
The Best Big Cat Videos Come From The Wild
Pallas's Cats To Get Their Own 'Palace' In Siberian Mountains
Amur Tiger Release
Last Wild Ocelots In Texas Get New Paths To Safety
