13 June 2007
International Tiger Coalition

The Hague, The Netherlands Tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts, governments gathered here said today, approving a decision to strengthen conservation of wild tigers.

This was a major victory for wild tigers, which could be quickly wiped out by poaching if there is a legal market anywhere, said Uttara Mendiratta of Wildlife Protection Society of India, on behalf of the 35 member organizations of the International Tiger Coalition. The international community has sent a clear message that the world cannot sacrifice the last wild tigers for the sake of a handful of wealthy tiger farm investors.

The International Tiger Coalition commends delegates from four countries with wild tigers
India, Nepal, Bhutan and Russia and the United States in standing firm on behalf of wild tiger conservation during a lengthy debate here today. The decision was adopted by consensus, but not before China tried to soften the language.

Privately run tiger farms across China have bred nearly 5,000 captive tigers and are putting enormous pressure on the Chinese government to allow legal trade in tiger parts within China. They argue that their captive tigers will meet the demand of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) users for tiger-bone tonic wines and medicines. But TCM practitioners worldwide have stopped using tiger bone and reject the argument that it is needed in legitimate medicines.

The request for reopening trade does not come from TCM, Lixin Huang, president of the American College of TCM, told the forum before the decision was made. TCM does not wish to be responsible for the extinction of wild tigers.
 
All international trade in tiger parts is banned by CITES, and China has banned domestic trade since 1993. The ban has proven successful in reducing demand for tiger bone and raising public awareness about tiger conservation, studies have found.

Aaranyak
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Animal Welfare Institute
Animals Asia Foundation
Association of Zoos & Aquariums 
Born Free Foundation 
Born Free USA
British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums 
Care for the Wild International
Conservation International 
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicin
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
Environmental Investigation Agency 
Global Tiger Patrol
Humane Society International
Humane Society of the United States
International Fund for Animal Welfare
PeunPa 
Ranthambhore Foundation
Save The Tiger Fund
Species Survival Network 
The Corbett Foundation 
Tigris Foundation 
TRAFFIC
21st Century Tiger 
WildAid
Wildlife Alliance
Wildlife Conservation Nepal
Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Protection Society of India
Wildlife Trust of India
World Association of Zoos & Aquariums
World Society for the Protection of Animals
WWF
Zoological Society of London