A raid in a Tiger Temple in Thailand unearthed several serious crimes that prompted the WWF’s call on governments all over Asia to further investigate all tiger breeding centers and shut down any operations discovered to be linked in the illegal tiger trade. This call was made during Global Tiger Day.
The shut-down of these operations, usually referred to as Tiger Farms’ will help differentiate them from legal captive breeding facilities or zoos established for the main purpose of conservation. Also, it would enhance efforts to save the remaining wild tigers in the world.
This year in June, authorities launched a crackdown on Tiger Temple in Thailand. They discovered 40 tiger cub bodies in a freezer, 30 more cubs stored in jars and 1,000 amulets made from tiger skin, along with 137 tigers.
Michael Baltzer, Leader of WWF Tigers Alive Initiative remarked that the appalling images of the frozen cubs from Tiger Temple ready for the illegal trade was clear evidence of what was really taking place behind the scenes and hence why they should be closed. He further explains that closure of tiger farms will assist countries to attain the aspired goal of doubling the number of wild tigers by the year 2022.
Over the last 15 years, tiger breeding centers have increased at an alarming rate in spite of theNGOs coalition calls to stop tiger breeding for sale purposes and terminate tiger farms.According to EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency), there are over 200 similar tiger farms all over Asia both small and big. These farms are distributed across Laos, China, Thailand and Viet Nam, holding between 7,000 to 8,000 captive tigers all together. This number is more than the approximated 3,900 tigers remaining in the wild.
Why closure of tiger breeding centers has proved challenging
Most of these tiger farms, which also include entertainment attractions such as Tiger Temple,have the likelihood of being involved in the illegal trade of tigers and tiger products, more so due to their extremely high running costs. They cripple attempts to safeguard wild tigers and end the illegal trade by convoluting enforcement actions as well as normalizing and authorizing the sale of tiger products and parts, which in turn grows demand.
Yowalak Thiarachow, Country Director of WWF in Thailand commented that the illegal tiger trade goes beyond Thailand’s borders and that the country has started to display the way forward.Hopefully, he other countries- China, Viet Nam and Laos- will adapt the same steps to aid solve the illegal trade issue.
Thailand authorities have assumed brave and absolute action to close the Tiger Temple. All theother tiger farms in the country should be closed down as well in order to stop the illegal trade of tigers and tiger parts.
Nonetheless, this action is not expected to take place overnight. “Thailand government would require international financial support to ensure the safety of these tigers and prompt the closure of all existing operations taking part in the tiger trade speedily,” recommended Edwin Wiek, Director of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.