This week, we have been taking part in the 70th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Animals Committee in Geneva, calling on the global community to end international trade in lion parts and products and presenting information to show how this trade endangers all big cats
There have been significant shipments of lion parts in the past 10 years to South-East Asia and China where they are marketed as tiger, further exacerbating demand for the world’s most endangered big cats.
Leopards are Asia’s most trafficked big cat, with more than 4,900 seized from illegal trade in Asia since 2000 – but despite this, new evidence indicates the Government of China is issuing permits to trade and use their bones to produce health tonics and used to produce traditional ‘medicines’
Iceland’s multi-millionaire rogue whaler Kristján Loftsson and his company Hvalur hf have resumed their slaughter of endangered fin whales in defiance of the international ban on commercial whaling. The hunt is Iceland’s first in three years and marks the start of a whaling season that could see up to 239 whales killed
The Chinese Government has permitted a commercial trade in 1,230.5 kg of leopard bone between pharmaceutical companies which represents the bones of more than 100 leopards. Widespread trade in leopard bone wine in China is concerning as it drives poaching and decimates wild populations of leopards and other big cats.
The killing of more than 50 lions on a South African farm last week has laid bare the reality of this officially sanctioned trade. Bloemfontein Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals followed up a complaint of two lions being kept in temporary containers found what was described as a “lion slaughterhouse"