Huddled in filthy cages and starved to the extent their fur is hanging off their jutting bones, these once majestic creatures are mercilessly being killed to decorate the homes of the elite, while their bones are ground down to make “tonic” wines.
As few as 3,500 tigers survive in the wild, yet more than 5,000 captive-bred tigers are held in sickening Chinese ‘farms’ and ‘zoos’. Although international and domestic trade in tiger parts and products has been banned in China since 1993, the level of enforcement throughout the tiger's range in Asia remains inadequate. At the CITES Conference of the parties in 2007, the Chinese authorities stated their commitment to phase out these farms yet tigers are still bred, held captive, starved and killed for traditional Chinese medicines and wine.
Unbelieveably, and in spite of international condemnation, these farms remain open. We need to make China reconsider its position and reinforce their commitment to phase out tiger farms.
