On the Butcher’s Block – the Mekong Tiger Trade Trail

“There is no escaping the fact that countries from which wild tigers have been wiped out or virtually wiped out in recent years – Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China – are countries where the tiger has been valued solely for the sum of its body parts…End the domestic trade and use of tiger and other big cat parts and derivatives, including from captive specimens and non-native species”

“On the Butcher’s Block – The Mekong Tiger Trade Trail” – Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), 6 March 2020

Further Reading

“Tiger bone trade: Shocking reason why people film big cat slaughter exposed,” Express, 6 April 2020

“Hunting the traffickers: How we’ve failed to stop the international tiger trade,” The Independent, 26 February 2020:

“The paradox: farms created to protect wild tigers from poaching have fuelled a demand for tiger products, which in turn has increased the number of tigers being poached. The solution is exacerbating the problem. And the market where more tigers are consumed than anywhere else? China“

“2019-2020: Tigers: Hunting the Traffickers,” BBC iPlayer – available 4 March – 2 April 2020

“China Announces ‘Legal Trade’ in Rhino and Tiger Products,” IWB, 30 October 2018

“The Lion’s Share,” Environmental Investigation Agency, July 2017

“A briefing on how South Africa’s trade in lion bone is driving consumer demand for tiger parts and products.“

“Asia’s massive unchecked demand for skins, bones, teeth and claws continues to drive poaching of wild tigers. This demand is exacerbated by the supply of huge volumes of African lion bone, teeth and claws, sold as tiger parts to less-discerning consumers in Asia.”

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Conference of the Parties (CoP) 14,  Captive-bred and ranched specimens – decision 14.69, 2007:

“Directed to the Parties, especially Appendix-I Asian big cat range States
Parties with intensive operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale shall implement measures to restrict the captive population to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers; tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts and derivatives.”