Body part by body part, Sumatran Tigers are being sold into extinction

  • 13/02/2008

  • Edie

Laws protecting the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger have failed to prevent tiger body parts being offered on open sale in Indonesia, according to a new TRAFFIC report. Tiger body parts, including canine teeth, claws, skin pieces, whiskers and bones, were on sale in 10 percent of the 326 retail outlets surveyed during 2006 in 28 cities and towns across Sumatra. Outlets included goldsmiths, souvenir and traditional Chinese medicine shops, and shops selling antique and precious stones. The survey conservatively estimates that 23 tigers were killed to supply the products seen, based on the number of canine teeth on sale. "This is down from an estimate of 52 killed per year in 1999