Illegal tiger trade a feature of Myanmar markets
Date:10/15/2008

Naypyidaw, Myanmar: Skin and bones, canines and claws from almost 1,200 wild cats were observed in Myanmar’s wildlife markets during 12 surveys undertaken by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.
They included parts of at least 107 tigers and all eight cat species native to Myanmar, formerly Burma. Irregular surveys over the last 15 years have recorded a total of 1,320 wild cat parts, representing a minimum of 1,158 individual animals.

“Although almost 1,200 cats were recorded, this can only be the tip of the iceberg,” said Chris Shepherd, Programme Co-ordinator for TRAFFIC’s Southeast Asia office.

“The cat parts were openly displayed for sale and the dealers quite frank about the illegality of the trade, which suggests a serious lack of law enforcement.”

People from neighbouring countries are the main buyers of these parts, as reflected by the locations of the markets - three of the four markets surveyed were located on international borders with China and Thailand. Prices were quoted in Thai or Chinese currency, or even US dollars.

“The sale of endangered cat parts, including Tigers of which only about 4,000 remain, is an appalling and brazen violation of the law in Myanmar and should not be tolerated,” said Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF International’s Species Programme.

“Most of these species have very low population numbers and will not be able to withstand the amount of poaching that is feeding this trade.”

National legislation in Myanmar is imprecise as to how many cat species are totally protected, but at least five are. Native cats comprise Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Asiatic Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat and Jungle Cat.

Five of them are listed in Appendix I of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which bans international trade. Myanmar has been a signatory to CITES since 1997.

“Myanmar has an amazing wealth and variety of wildlife. However, immediate action to close down these markets and prosecute those engaged in the trade of protected wildlife is essential,” said Shepherd, adding that national legislation needed to be tightened and better cross-border co-operation with neighbouring countries, particularly Thailand and China was needed.

Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), a partnership that seeks to end illegal cross-border wildlife trade in the region.

In order to combat the illegal trade in wild cat parts in Myanmar, and to work towards the conservation of wildlife, TRAFFIC recommended improving and enforcing national laws and closing markets actively selling protected wildlife.

Myanmar should also work to reduce illegal international trade of wild cats and other protected wildlife, and should be encouraged to work closely with Thailand, China and other relevant countries as international co-operation is essential to enforce effectively CITES and to put an end to the illegal international trade.

Authorities in airports and other points of international entry and exit should be more vigilant to prevent parts and derivatives of protected wildlife from being carried across Myanmar’s borders.

Myanmar should also ensure that staff based at these checkpoints are sufficiently trained in CITES implementation, enforcement and species/parts of species identification.

Regular and systematic monitoring of the markets in Myanmar should continue to be carried out by non-government organizations to assist the authorities in their enforcement efforts as well as to detect changing trends and dynamics in the trade.

And Myanmar, as a party to CITES, should revise existing laws or enact completely new CITES implementing legislation and enforce all CITES-enabling legislation.