MPs and Peers call on UK Government for action to end tiger trade
On 2 April, our Wildlife campaigners and Indian author and conservationist Prerna Bindra raised the alarm over trade in tigers and other big cats an event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary China Group in the UK Parliament.
Following discussions on the serious threats posed by the big cat trade and policies in China which serve to perpetuate it, 71 MPs and Peers have now called on the UK Government to support strong action to save big cats.
Fewer than 4,000 wild tigers survive and Asia’s leopards, clouded leopards and snow leopards are all in decline; a major cause is illegal killing and trade to meet demand for their parts and products, primarily from Chinese consumers.
‘Bone strengthening’ wine for sale in China (c) EIAimage
India, home to more than half of the world’s remaining wild tigers, has put forward a proposal to next month’s 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP18) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) comprising a suite of urgently needed actions to tackle the trade in Asian big cat parts and products driving the species towards extinction.
In letters led by Richard Graham MP and Rebecca Pow MP, Chair and Environment Vice-Chair respectively of the All Party Parliamentary China Group, to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a cross-party group of 71 MPs and peers have called on the UK Government to support India’s proposal and encourage other countries to follow suit.
Among the concerns expressed in the letter are the fact that China continues to allow sales of parts and products of tigers and leopards, sending a message to consumers that these products are acceptable, and the proliferation of tiger farms which contribute to illegal trade in tiger parts. India’s proposal presents specific recommendations to tackle these key issues.
In their letter, MPs and peers note that China has shown leadership in banning its ivory trade and now has an opportunity to show leadership on banning trade in tiger and other big cat parts.
Debbie Banks, our Tiger and Wildlife Crime Campaign Leader, said: “It would be a tragedy if we lost the fight to save wild tigers. They urgently need leaders to champion their cause at the highest political levels to bring about real change, including an end to tiger farming.”
The following MPs and Peers have signed the letter:
Richard Graham MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary China Group
Rebecca Pow MP, Environment Vice-Chair, All Party Parliamentary China Group
Darren Jones MP, Labour, Bristol North West
Lord Steel of Aikwood
Rosie Cooper MP, Labour, West Lancashire
Kerry McCarthy MP, Labour, Bristol East
Christine Jardine MP, Liberal Democrat, Edinburgh West
Lord Truscott, Independent Labour
Lord Marlesford, Conservative
Baroness D’Souza, Crossbench
John Mann MP, Labour, Bassetlaw
Mr Jonathan Lord MP, Conservative, Woking
Sarah Champion MP, Labour, Rotherham
Lord Rowe-Beddoe, Crossbench
Andrew Rosindell MP, Conservative, Romford
Robert Courts MP, Conservative, Witney
Andrea Jenkyns MP, Conservative, Morley and Outwood
Lord Stoddart, Independent Labour
Jeremy Lefroy MP, Conservative, Stafford
Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, Conservative, Ludlow
Dr David Drew MP, Labour, Stroud
Daniel Zeichner MP, Labour, Cambridge
Rt Hon Sir Mike Penning MP, Conservative, Hemel Hempstead
Dr Matthew Offord MP, Conservative, Hendon
Antoinette Sandbach MP, Conservative, Eddisbury
Rt Hon Richard Benyon MP, Conservative, Newbury
David Warburton MP, Conservative, Somerton and Frome
Zac Goldsmith MP, Conservative, Richmond Park
Vicky Ford MP, Conservative, Chelmsford
Mr Simon Clarke MP, Conservative, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP, Conservative, North Thanet
Sarah Newton MP, Conservative, Truro and Falmouth
Sir David Crausby MP, Labour, Bolton North East
Mr Ranil Jayawardena MP, Conservative, North East Hampshire
Victoria Prentis MP, Conservative, Banbury
Kate Green MP, Labour, Streford and Urmston
Ross Thomson MP, Conservative, Aberdeen South
Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Labour, Poplar and Limehouse
Bill Wiggin MP, Conservative, North Herefordshire
Rt Hon David Jones MP, Conservative, Clwyd West
Henry Smith MP, Conservative, Crawley
Rt Hon Nigel Dodds MP, DUP, Belfast North
Catherine West MP, Labour, Hornsey and Wood Green
Rt Hon Ann Clwyd MP, Labour, Cynon Valley
Ms Karen Buck MP, Labour, Westminster North
Alex Sobel MP, Labour Co-op, Leeds North West
Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Conservative, Harlow
John Howell MP, Conservative, Henley
Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Conservative, Witham
Rt Hon John Spellar MP, Labour, Warley
Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, Conservative, Meriden
Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Conservative, Chipping Barnet
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck MP, Labour, South Shields
Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Labour, Gower
Dr Rupa Huq MP, Labour, Ealing Central and Acton
Bob Blackman MP, Conservative, Harrow East
Ruth George MP, Labour, High Peak
Rt Hon Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat, Carshalton and Wallington
Rt Hon David Hanson MP, Labour, Delyn
Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, Independent, Totnes
Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat, Bath
Vernon Coaker MP, Labour, Gedling
Grahame Morris MP, Labour, Easington
Gareth Thomas MP, Labour, Harrow West
Rt Hon George Howarth MP, Labour, Knowsley
Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Labour, Leicester East
Tracey Crouch MP, Conservative, Chatham and Aylesford
Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Conservative, Sutton Coldfield
Deidre Brock MP, Scottish National Party, Edinburgh North and Leith
Nic Dakin MP, Labour, Scunthorpe
Yvonne Fovargue MP, Labour, Makerfield
