Tiger skins, bones fetch $5 mn annually in black market
November 23rd, 2010 - 5:57 pm ICT by IANSSt. Petersburg, Nov 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Poachers sell about 150 tiger skins every year and the annual turnover of tiger skins and bones in the black market across the globe is some $5 million, a UN official has said.
“150 tiger skins and 150 kg of tiger bones are sold on the black market annually. In 2009, one (tiger) skin cost $20,000 and a kg of bones - $1,200,” said Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The wild cats have been steadily pushed to the verge of extinction by poaching, illegal trade, and habitat loss, Fedotov said. About 150 tigers are killed by poachers every year, which is about 5 percent of world’s tiger population.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) plans to spend $85 million in the next five years on programmes aimed at restoring the global tiger population, WWF head James Leape said at the International Tiger Conservation Forum Monday.
According to the WWF, about 3,200 tigers are left worldwide. A century ago, there were some 100,000 wild tigers across Asia and the Russian Far East.
The International Tiger Conservation Forum, hosted by the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg running Nov 21-24, is discussing a plan to double the animal’s population in 12 years, which will require up to $350 million from the international community.
Keshav Varma, the director of the World Bank’s Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), called on the international community Monday to donate more money to save the tigers.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
hv/dg
- India, 12 others vow to double tiger numbers by 2022 - Nov 25, 2010
- WWF Russia seeks foster parents for 500 polar bears - Nov 15, 2011
- Polar bear census could cost Russia $60 mn - Dec 15, 2011
- India's tiger count rises to 1,706 - Mar 28, 2011
- Medvedev, Hu to discuss economic ties Thursday - Jun 16, 2011
- India to reveal latest tiger numbers Monday - Mar 26, 2011
- World's deepest metro station to be in Russia - Dec 28, 2011
- Rise in tiger count due to new areas counted: Experts - Mar 28, 2011
- At 1,706, India's tiger count up 12 percent (Lead) - Mar 28, 2011
- Putin to host Asian summit on tiger conservation aimed at doubling population by 2022 - Nov 19, 2010
- Amur Leopard National Park opens in Russia - Apr 11, 2012
- Russian Winter Olympic mascots to appear on coins - Feb 22, 2012
- Dozens of protesters detained in Russia - Jun 01, 2011
- Russian gays plead for end to crackdown - Dec 02, 2011
- Chinese PM to visit Russia - Nov 06, 2011
Tags: annual turnover, conservation forum, drugs and crime, international tiger, james leape, keshav, next five years, ria novosti, russian city, russian far east, tiger bones, tiger conservation, tiger population, tiger skin, tiger skins, united nations office, wild cats, wild tigers, world wildlife fund, world wildlife fund wwf