"Despite half a century of international protection, TRAFFIC's findings showed that tiger trafficking is accelerating and increasingly targeting whole animals, living or dead. Experts say the shift appears linked to captive-breeding operations, but may also reflect tigers being seized shortly after poaching or before being dismembered for their parts. Additionally, it could be driven by a rise in exotic pet ownership or demand for taxidermy, they say."
"Between 2000 and mid-2025, law enforcement agencies globally recorded 2,551 seizures involving at least 3,808 tigers. In the five years from 2020 to June 2025 alone, authorities made 765 seizures, confiscating the equivalent of 573 tigers, roughly nine a month over 66 months. The worst single year was 2019, when 141 seizures were recorded, followed by 139 in 2023."
Global tiger trafficking is intensifying, with criminal networks evolving faster than responses. Law enforcement recorded 2,551 seizures between 2000 and mid-2025 involving at least 3,808 tigers. From 2020 to June 2025 authorities made 765 seizures, equating to 573 tigers—about nine per month. Trafficking increasingly targets whole animals, living or dead, a shift linked to captive-breeding operations, seizures shortly after poaching, rising exotic pet ownership, and taxidermy demand. Most seizures occurred within the 13 tiger-range countries, led by India, China, Indonesia and Vietnam, while notable incidents also occurred in Mexico, the United States and the United Kingdom.
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