Affiliation:
1. Landscape Ecology Group, Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan People's Republic of China
2. International College University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
3. Panthera New York New York USA
4. School of Biological Sciences University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
Abstract
AbstractUnsustainable wildlife trade is a major threat to many species, but quantifying trade remains challenging, as seizure data provides an incomplete understanding. For this reason, integrating multiple types of information, including interviews with actors involved in trade, is crucial if we are to understand the problem better. Hence, in this study, we digitized Bangladesh Forest Department tiger seizure records to identify trade routes and interviewed 163 individuals involved in trafficking tigers through Bangladesh's air, sea and land ports, including poachers, smugglers, and traders. We identified six ports used to import tigers, 14 ports used for tiger export and three ports showing bi‐directional trade. Elite Bangladeshis were the most important consumer group, and tigers were sourced from populations in NE India, Myanmar and Bangladesh Sundarbans to supply domestic demand. Tiger products were exported to 14 countries, including seven G20 nations, with Bangladeshi expatriates as the consumer group in three countries (United Kingdom, Germany and Qatar). Rising economic development in Bangladesh over the last decade, combined with deep‐rooted cultural ties to tiger consumption, has led to a rise in domestic demand. Additionally, rapid growth in international transport links has increased smuggling and connected local traders with global markets, increasing the complexity of global trade. These findings suggest Bangladesh is poised to play a pivotal role in tiger conservation over the next decade, requiring strong national strategies to reduce trade opportunities, disrupt networks and weaken demand.
Funder
Chinese Academy of Sciences
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Idaho National Laboratory
Subject
Nature and Landscape Conservation,Environmental Science (miscellaneous),Ecology,Global and Planetary Change
Cited by
1 articles.
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