February is tiger month. The 14th sees the start of the Chinese Year of the Tiger. FFI works in Indonesia’s Kerinci Seblat National Park to combat Sumatran tiger poaching and protect the big cat’s habitat through patrolling.
IYB Issue: Illegal Wildlife TradeOne of the main threats to Sumatran tigers is poaching. Hunters trap or shoot them for their skin and bones, which are in high demand by Asian traditional medicine while there is still demand for skins both in Indonesia and overseas. In fact, the illegal trade in wildlife is a massive threat to global biodiversity. Exotic fish, birds, and many other animals are stolen for use in the pet trade while illegal harvesting of plants – including trees – affects many habitats worldwide. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to control the trade. For example, any trade in tiger parts is illegal. CITES is an important tool in the fight against biodiversity loss. |
- Debbie Martyr, FFI Team Leader of Kerinci Tiger Project
Did you know?
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Learn more about our tiger work
Learn more about the Sumatran tiger
What can you do to help the Sumatran tiger?
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