The Chinese delegation attending the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop has reportedly claimed China’s tiger farms supply ‘medicine’ to 60 countries.

A shocking article from Nepal’s Republica says that the Chinese delegation attending the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop claims China “cannot put an end to its tiger farming as medicine produced from tiger parts is supplied to 60 countries”.

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Expansion of critical habitat for tigers and the establishment of a Wildlife Crime Control Committee are among the announcements from the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop. But will these efforts be enough to protect tigers from China’s ‘bizarre obsession’ with tiger body parts?

Encouraging news so far from the inaugural session of the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal announced a 900 sq km increase of Bardia National Park, expanding critical habitat for Nepal’s tigers.

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Two frozen tigers have been seized by environmental authorities near Hanoi.

Hanoi police made a horrifying discovery when they stopped a taxi in the central province of Thanh Hoa: The frozen carcasses of two tigers.

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As wild tiger populations dwindle, poachers are turning to lions to feed the insatiable Chinese appetite for ‘potions’ made from big cat bones.

Conservationists are sounding the alarm about a disturbing development in the fight to save wildlife from poaching: Lions are being killed as a substitute for tigers so their bones can be sold as Chinese “remedies.”

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A shocking discovery by forest guards in the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve exposes a family business built on killing tigers.

Learning from grandma is usually a good thing. But not this time: An eight-year-old boy and his grandmother were arrested after laying a steel trap to kill a tiger.

The pair was caught adjacent to the Indo-Nepal border, in the Manguraha jungle area.

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Wildlife experts warn that India’s tiger protection plans appear to be failing - and a recent meeting reveals that China is not interested in curtailing its demand for endangered tiger parts.

Despite millions of dollars in funding, a new protection force, forest dweller relocation plans, and other measures, wildlife experts fear that India’s attempts to protect endangered tigers from poaching are failing.

A further blow to tiger protection efforts came when a recent meeting between India’s Minister of Environment and Chinese officials did not make any progress on the issue.

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From the proposed bill to protect the North American black bear to the resurgence of elephant poaching in Kenya - and the skinning of a tiger inside an Indonesian zoo - the issues are not over yet.

Lions and tigers and bears … and elephants, whales, and rhino: Here are a few updates - as of today - on nine of my wildlife conservation posts. Four zoo posts are included, as zoos are (ideally) intended to be facilities for protecting precious wildlife.

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A gun battle broke out between forest officials and poachers in Kaziranga National Park after the killing of a tiger, rhino, and elephant.

In the span of just a few days, poachers managed to kill a tiger, rhino, and elephant in India’s Kaziranga National Park. Despite an exchange of bullets between forest officials and poachers, the poachers escaped.

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A 14-month old endangered Amur tiger has been released into the Ussuriisky Nature Reserve.

After six months of care and rehabilitation, a critically endangered Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) has been returned to the wild in the Ussuriisky Nature Reserve.

The orphaned tiger was found in March, weak and emaciated at just 17 kg, when it showed up in the village of Avangard.

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Wildlife conservationists are furious over a senior forest official’s apparent attempt to cover up a tiger poaching incident in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

Suspicion is growing around the investigation of a Goa tiger poaching incident earlier this year which allegedly involved an employee of the home guard department - and now it appears a senior forest official is trying to cover it up.

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Disturbing information suggests that the wording of a Chinese forestry administration document is ambiguous enough to allow trade in products derived from critically endangered tigers.

According to The Times UK, wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC has sounded the alarm about a document issued by the Chinese State Forestry Administration, warning that the wording is “loose” enough to encourage China’s deplorable tiger farmers to begin processing tiger-derived products.

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One of the poachers involved in the recent killing of a critically endangered Sumatran tiger inside Jambi’s Rimbo Zoo has been arrested.

Last month, when Sheila the tiger was poisoned and then skinned inside her enclosure, authorities feared the incident was a horrifying new development in the illegal trade in tiger skin and body parts.

Tragically, they were correct: Now that one of the men who killed Sheila has been arrested, police questioning has revealed that the murder was financed by a Palembang “businessman.”

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Authorities fear that the killing of Sheila the tiger at Jambi’s Rimbo Zoo is a shocking new development in the illegal wildlife trade. The tiger’s skin, along with body parts in demand for traditional Asian “remedies”, were taken from the tiger’s enclosure.

Officials noted that even the tiger’s blood had been collected.

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On the same day that a loophole in endangered species trade law was closed, officers from the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime and Chinatown Units raided a TCM shop.

Approximately 200 products made from endangered tiger, leopard, and musk deer were seized from a “traditional Asian medicine” shop in London’s Chinatown area - a productive raid on the first day that an amended wildlife trade law came into effect.

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India’s tiger conservation efforts have suffered a multitude of major setbacks, and threats from inside and outside the country may lead to extinction of the wild tiger. Can the tiger be saved?

When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, India reported a tiger population of 1,827 tigers - a decline from 40,000 tigers in India at the turn of the century. Now, the tiger population in India is only approximately 1,400. The Indian public is outraged, and recently held a rally in support of saving its tigers.

It has now become clear that the almost four decade old Project Tiger has not been able to do much in stabilizing, let alone enhancing the tiger population in India. Its recent successor, the National Tiger Conservation Authority is said to be, for lack of better words, without teeth. And the tiger, perhaps unaware that so much is happening in its name is fast losing the battle to survive.

How did the tiger population in India get to such a sorry state?

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‘Kids for Tigers’ Aerial Art with the President of India’s House in the vicinity

It was the famous cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who declared that he now bats for the tiger. It is the former Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly who is referred to as the Bengal Tiger. But it was another ace Indian cricketer and a favorite of many, Rahul Dravid, who took part in the 5th Bengal Tiger Consultation and Tiger Rally. And as someone who was there to learn and do something about the drastically reducing tiger numbers in the country.

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Finally, a bit of good news about wild tigers.

In Nepal, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (in coordination with the WWF and the National Trust for Nature Conservation) has released an estimated population of critically endangered tigers and snow leopards. And, the tiger population has increased in Chitwan National Park.

According to The Himalayan Times:

It said that there were a total of 121 adult tigers spread over the four protected areas, with the highest number in the Chitwan National Park with 91 tigers. Bardiya National Park, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and Parsa Wildlife Reserve were estimated to have 18, eight and four tigers respectively. Similarly, the estimated population of snow leopards is 300-400 in the Himalayan region.

The tiger census was conducted from December 2008 - March 2009, using data collected from camera traps and tiger footprints.

The Chitwan National Park tiger census in 2000 determined the population to be around 60 adult tigers.

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One of India’s most wanted poachers is now being held by WPSI. He is accused of killing eight lions and is considered the main supplier of large carnivore skins, including endangered tiger and leopard.

The Times of India reports that Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) provided the Madhya Pradesh forest department officials with the intelligence information they needed to finally nab notorious poacher Duruu Harpasad Pardhi.

Law enforcement had been after Duruu since 2007, when 65 animal skins (1 tiger, 21 leopard, 43 otter) were seized and he was identified as the supplier. Police have also been after Duruu for laying animal traps in the Umarzari area of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) adjacent to Nagzira wildlife sanctuary and two traps in Wadsa forest division.

In 1998, Duruu’s father was caught with traps, but was freed on bail.

WPSI fed up with “ad hoc wildlife protection”

WPSI’s Central Director Nitin Desai said, “We have had enough of wildlife protection on an ad hoc basis.” He stressed the need for “intelligence-led enforcement.”

India has come under fire lately for losing all of the tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve - 24 of the big cats in three years - to poachers.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iboy/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

4. Kenya Fears Link Between Elephant Killings and Chinese Construction Projects

Summary:
The Kenya Wildlife Service suspects it is more than a coincidence that a large number of elephant killings have occurred in areas where Chinese crews have recently arrived for massive construction projects.

Update:
Despite the growing list of suspicious “coincidences”, it is no surprise that the Chinese government officially denied links to elephant poaching in Kenya. Major media outlets did the same by syndicating one article that referred to poaching in the title, but leaving the information about China out of the content altogether.

Later, most sources altered the title of the article and removed the word “poaching” - although a search will reveal the original title in some of the syndicated pages.

The response by China appears to be a little more than the flexing of newly-acquired PR muscles, which the country quickly attempted to develop during the Uighur riots earlier this year. There is more at China Denies Links to Elephant Poaching in Kenya

5. Tiger Killed, Skinned Inside Indonesian Zoo

Summary:
Sheila the tiger was poisoned and then skinned in her enclosure at Jambi’s Rimbo Zoo in Indonesia.

Wildlife authorities fear this crime is a shocking new development in the illegal wildlife trade: The tiger’s skin, along with body parts in demand for traditional Asian “remedies”, were taken from the tiger’s enclosure.

Update:
There has been one arrest in the Indonesian zoo tiger killing. Sadly, it appears that this is only one link in a chain of an organized effort to meet the demands of China’s flourishing illegal trade in tiger skin and body parts.

6. Tiger Poaching Scandal? Goa Forest Official Says Remains ‘Not a Tiger’

Summary:
Suspicion is growing around the investigation of a Goa tiger poaching incident earlier this year which allegedly involved an employee of the home guard department - and now it appears a senior forest official is trying to cover it up.

Chief Conservator of Forests Goa, Shashi Kumar, claims that the Wildlife Institute of India’s investigation shows the slaughtered animal was “not a tiger.” Such a claim is dubious, especially considering eyewitness accounts and published photographs of physical evidence at the location where the tiger was killed.

Update:
It looks like Kumar has changed his tune once again, according to a Thaindian News report on the “official flip flop”:

After initially claiming that a “preliminary” forensic report had ruled out poaching of a tiger in a Goa wildlife sanctuary, the state’s top forest official has now said that he has not seen the forensic report yet. Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Shashi Kumar now maintains that he had made the statement only on the basis of a letter faxed to him by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Oh, really?

7. 20 Animals Dead This Year at Dhaka Zoo in Bangladesh

Summary:
Negligence, inadequate care, inexperience, and poor living conditions the Dhaka Zoo are to blame for the reported deaths of 20 animals so far this year.

Update:
Just two days after the original post, one of Dhaka zoo’s Bengal tigers, Garjan, died.

There are now apparently ten tigers left at this facility. A photo shows a tiger in a cement enclosure.

Despite the suspension of the zoo’s curator and deputy director, Dhaka Zoo is preparing to welcome holiday visitors, according to an online Bangladesh news source.

The zoo publicity officer, Saiful Islam, said the authorities are taking all measures to entertain the visitors.

By all means, since entertaining the visitors seems to be working great - just great.

8. 14 Deer Dead in One Night at Kanpur Zoo

Summary:
A disturbing discovery at the Kanpur Zoo revealed that thirteen chital (Axis axis) and one swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli) had died overnight. Coincidentally, five black bucks died last at Kanpur Zoo last year within one hour around this same time of year.

Seven employees were suspended.

Update:
Last Wednesday, PETA India held a demonstration in front of the Central Zoo Authority calling for the closure of all zoos, citing this incident as the latest in the rising death toll of animals in India’s zoos.

And last Thursday, an official inspection by a four-member team was conducted at the Kanpur Zoological Park.

During their stay, the team members inspected the enclosures of various animals and observed the cleanliness. They went to the site where the deer were found dead. Kanpur zoo, director, K Praveen Rao was asked to provide documents on the zoo management.

The inspection team is expected to submit a report within 15 days.

9. Tiger Cub Dies at Zoo — To Attract More Tourists

Summary:
A white tiger cub has died at India’s Indore Zoo after zoo authorities decided to keep a litter of sick cubs on display to attract more tourists.

Wildlife experts believe that putting the cubs on display prematurely made them ill in the first place - and zoo authorities knew the cubs had been suffering from bacterial gastroenteritis since late August. A zoo employee reportedly said the cubs were dehydrated and had diarrhea, but were kept in the enclosure anyway so tourists would come and see them.

Update:
It turns out the tragic death of the tiger cub wasn’t the first animal death at the Indore Zoo.

Apparently, three animals - a deer and two male black bucks - died the week before from internal injuries inflicted during a “clash” in their enclosure. And in July, 20 rabbits reportedly died from an infection.

However, it appears that action is being taken in this matter.

Stung by a series of deaths in the Indore zoo, including that of a white tiger cub, the civic agency has removed more than 25 employees, including the superintendent and the zoo in-charge, for negligence of duty, officials said Tuesday.

One of the surviving tiger cubs is still undergoing medical treatment.

Not over yet

At times, it looks as if the world is somehow conspiring against the survival of its wildlife treasures.

The struggle to protect endangered species from poachers and habitat loss - or to provide proper care to zoo inhabitants - seems at times to be a difficult and lonely one. Many believe the battle to save endangered species from extinction is already lost.

Yet, thanks to the dedicated efforts of organizations such as Cook Inletkeeper, Wildlife Direct, International Rhino Foundation (and many more) along with countless, caring individuals, hope for wildlife remains.

And where there is hope for wildlife … perhaps there is hope for humans, too.

Image source: istock.com

Alarmed with the almost daily reporting of rapidly declining tiger numbers and the inaction that follows, school children and several civil society groups in the Indian capital city of New Delhi are coming together to demand the basic right of the tiger–a Right to Survival. And in that, ensuring the survival of the entire human race. The Rally that follows a tiger consultation will also be a shift from all that has been done to all that needs to be done. As an organizer of the rally, comments like these are both inspiring and thought provoking.

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Kenyan wildlife authorities believe that a CITES decision to allow limited legal ivory trade has sent a signal that all ivory trade has been resumed.

An alarming resurgence in elephant poaching at the same time that a partial ban on ivory trade has been lifted is not a coincidence. Earlier this month, an illegal shipment of $1-million worth of elephant tusks and rhino horn was seized at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport. Blood on the ivory and horns confirmed that the elephants and rhinos had recently been killed. The animal parts were hidden in coffins, and were en route to Laos. Kenya wildlife authorities are confident that the tusks and horn had a final destination of China, where the illegal trade in endangered species parts is well-established.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Head of Species and Conservation Management, Patrick Ormandi, reports that since the partial lifting of ivory trade ban:

Last year we lost 98 elephants to poachers and up to today, this year, we have lost up to 73 elephants. This is a big worry and all this is stimulated because there was an experiment to trade.

From the beginning, KWS has opposed any type of ivory trade with China. A spokesperson for KWS, Ngugi Gichaga, warned that the wrong signal would be sent with the re-opening of a limited legal ivory trade.

As Kenya told them that is not the way to go because that was going to send the wrong signals, because what it was going to signify is that there has been a resumption of trade with ivory.

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