🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
All tiger subspecies are listed under Appendix I of CITES, which bans international commercial trade in their parts.
Despite strict international bans under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, illegal trafficking of tiger parts persists. Seizure reports in Indonesia have documented confiscated skins, bones, and teeth. For a population estimated at under 400 individuals, each poached tiger represents a measurable fraction of the species. Demand for traditional medicine products in parts of Asia continues to create financial incentives. Law enforcement operations occasionally intercept shipments, but remote forest terrain complicates monitoring. A single organized poaching network can remove multiple breeding adults in a year. The biological loss is immediate; the demographic shock can last decades.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion-dollar global industry, often overlapping with other forms of organized crime. When high-value predators are targeted, enforcement must compete with sophisticated trafficking routes. Protected areas require funding for ranger patrols, surveillance, and community engagement. Without sustained budgets, poachers exploit gaps. The economic asymmetry is stark: a tiger may be worth thousands on the black market, while ranger salaries are modest. This imbalance tests institutional resilience in developing regions.
On a human level, poaching often reflects limited livelihood alternatives. Communities near forests may face poverty, making illegal hunting financially tempting. Conservation efforts increasingly pair enforcement with economic incentives such as ecotourism or sustainable agriculture. Yet the tension remains: a single transaction can undo years of recovery work. When the entire global population fits into a small stadium, the margin for criminal activity shrinks to almost nothing.
Source
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
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