Bangladesh Emerges as a Surprising Hub in the Global Tiger Poaching and Trafficking Crisis

As the world marks International Tiger Day, a new study has brought to light the unexpected role of Bangladesh in the illicit poaching and trafficking of endangered tigers. This research, conducted by Panthera, a renowned global wild cat Conservation organization, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has revealed that Bangladesh is now both a consumer and a significant source of the illegal tiger trade. The study identifies a growing class of Bangladeshi nouveau riche, both within the country and abroad, as a major driver of the demand for tiger parts poached from Bangladesh’s Sundarbans, Northeast India, and northern Myanmar.

The findings of the study indicate that Bangladesh has become a critical player in the global tiger poaching and trafficking industry. The country serves as a hub for supplying tiger parts to 15 countries, including China, India, and Malaysia, followed by developed G20 nations like the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Japan. The demand for tiger parts is predominantly driven by wealthy Bangladeshi citizens seeking them for medicinal, spiritual, and ornamental purposes, with tiger bones, canines, meat, skulls, and skins being highly prized commodities.

The rise of a wealthy class in Bangladesh has exacerbated the demand for tiger parts, leading to a surge in poaching activities. In response to this alarming development, conservationists have urged for tailored strategies to combat each of the twelve distinct tiger poaching and trafficking problems identified in the country. A specific focus has been placed on interventions to compete with the latest evolution of poaching, which now includes the use of poisoning methods.

The study sheds light on the impact of pirate groups that infiltrated Bangladesh’s Sundarbans region between the early 2000s and 2018. These groups operated extortion rackets, taxed resource harvesters, and were involved in tiger poaching, which caused a devastating decline in the Sundarbans tiger population. The government’s counter-piracy campaign offered amnesty to pirate groups, leading to the eradication of piracy in the region. However, it also paved the way for the emergence of specialized tiger poaching syndicates and opportunistic poachers who use poison, like Furadan, to carry out their illicit activities.

To effectively combat the illegal tiger trade in Bangladesh, conservationists advocate for a problem-oriented approach. This entails adopting interventions that target specific players, trade routes, and other contributing factors one by one. Key suggestions include increasing trade detection by land, sea, and air, reducing bribery, and evaluating intervention efficacy through convicted and active offender interviews. Engaging with communities along Bangladesh’s borders and understanding the consumption habits and motivations of elite Bangladeshi citizens are crucial aspects of the counter-poaching campaign.

Bangladesh’s role in the tiger poaching crisis is of global significance, especially as the country experiences explosive economic and infrastructure growth, facilitating illegal tiger trafficking. Tigers are already an endangered species, and the loss of tigers in Bangladesh, one of the ten nations home to a breeding population, could significantly reduce the genetic diversity of the global tiger population.

Visit panthera.org to learn about how you can help big cat rescue and stop the illegal poaching and trafficking of tigers!

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