#wildlife-trafficking

#wildlife-trafficking

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.

"We never imagined Mexico would emerge as number one, says Kurt Duchez, an anti-wildlife trafficking officer for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mesoamerica."

The Spanish police rescued 19 exotic felines from a home in Majorca that were destined for the illegal world market, arresting the Russian couple who owned them.