WWF warns of tiger farms as captive populations exceed wild numbers

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has issued a warning that more tigers currently live in captivity than in the wild. This announcement coincides with the start of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Geneva.

The WWF is calling for a ban on tiger farms and stricter regulations regarding captive tiger populations. According to the organization, significant gaps exist in the monitoring of these facilities. Data evaluated by the WWF indicates that only six countries have reported measures to mitigate trade risks associated with tiger breeding and keeping. Furthermore, these reports fail to clarify whether countries are limiting captive tiger numbers as required.

Georg Scattolin, a conservation expert at WWF Austria, stated that facilities involved in illegal wildlife trade jeopardize tiger conservation by increasing demand that drives poaching of wild tigers. The WWF is demanding more rigorous controls, including the complete tracking of births, deaths, and transfers of captive tigers to prevent body parts from entering the illegal market. The organization also advocates for the phased closure of tiger farms used for commercial trade.